The election petition before the High Court was filed by a voter from the Chamrajpet Assembly Constituency challenging Khan’s election.
The complainant argued that the commitments by the Congress in its election manifesto for the 2023 Karnataka assembly polls were direct and indirect financial help to the public, amounting to corrupt electoral practice.
The High Court held that promises may be a case of wrong policy but cannot be termed as ‘corrupt practice’ under the Representation of People Act.
“The five guarantees of the Indian National Congress have to be considered as social welfare policies. Whether they are financially viable or not is altogether a different aspect. It is for the other parties to show as to how implementation of the said schemes amounts to bankruptcy of the State Treasury and it can only lead to mal governance of the State. It is possible that they can be termed as wrong policies under the given facts and circumstances of the case, but cannot be termed as corrupt practices,” the High Court said.
The complainant then moved the Supreme Court.
Source: Barandbench
