HC disqualifies Koduvally MLA, gives time to file appeal in SC
He is with the ruling LDF in Kerala.
He is with the ruling LDF in Kerala.
He is with the ruling LDF in Kerala.
Kochi: The Kerala High Court has disqualified Koduvally MLA Karat Razak. He is an LDF-backed independent MLA.
The court ruling comes on a petition filed by Koduvally voter KP Muhammed. The petition alleged that Razak had circulated videos aimed at defaming his opponent IUML's MA Razak during the poll campaign.
Karat Razak had in 2016 defeated Razak by 583 votes in the UDF bastion.
However, the HC stayed its own order for 30 days after Razak sought time to file an appeal in the Supreme Court. The HC said that while Razak can take part in Kerala Assembly session, he cannot vote or avail salary or other benefits.
He is the second Kerala MLA to be disqualified in three months. The HC had on November 9 disqualified IUML's KM Shaji for six years and directed the Kerala Assembly speaker and the Election Commission to take appropriate action. The HC had delivered the judgment on a plea filed by LDF candidate M V Nikesh Kumar, who contested the election against Shaji.
In his petition, Nikesh Kumar had alleged that Shaji secured a win by a margin of 2,287 votes using corrupt practices and violated norms prescribed under various sections of the Representation of the People Act to win the elections.
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