'Too Vague': Karnataka High Court Rejects PIL For Inquiry Against Legislators Over Alleged Disproportionate Assets

Karnataka High Court on Thursday (February 6) dismissed a public interest litigation filed seeking a direction to Lokayukta to hold enquiry against the MLA, MPs and MLCs whose assets are disproportionate to their known sources of income, by considering the representation made by the petitioner in December 2023.

A division bench of Chief Justice N V Anjaria and Justice M I Arun dismissed the petition filed by Gurunath Vadde. It said “The petition and facts stated therein are too general and too vague to be acted upon in PIL jurisdiction.”

The petitioner had sought a direction to the respondents to hold enquiry against the MLA's, MP's and MLC's who were elected through the State Assembly and Lok Sabha constituencies from the State, whose assets are disproportionate to their known source of income.

Further it was submitted that many political leaders have got huge wealth and assets disproportionate to known sources of income, there has been a steep increase in their Assets and against several elected representatives criminal cases are pending.

It was also claimed that since the assets of the Elected Representative have increased at an alarming rate to become disproportionate to their known source of income and if the trend is allowed to go on unchecked, it would have a devastating result and the people will lose faith in democracy.

The bench on going through the averments said “A general allegation and bald statement will not carry the case of petitioner further. In any view the cases where irregularities or illegalities are noticed in terms of income and assets of any government servant or public representative found to be disproportionate to the known sources of income, statutory provisions and machinery in law are in existence under which course can be taken in individual cases in accordance with law.”

Dismissing the plea the court held “The court is not inclined to entertain this petition which stands on general statements petition is dismissed as being meritless.”

Case Title: Gurunath Vadde AND State of Karnataka & ANR

Case No: WP 1160/2024

Citation No: 2025 LiveLaw (Kar) 46