Karnataka high court issues notice on plea over alleged discriminatory allocation of funds | Bengaluru News

Bengaluru: The Karnataka high court Wednesday issued a notice to the state govt and the Bagalkot district deputy commissioner in response to a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by a BJP MLA from Jamkhandi assembly constituency, Jagadeesh Shivaya Gudagunti.The MLA alleged discriminatory allocation of funds under the Rs 8,000-crore Chief Minister’s Infrastructure Development Programme (CMIDP) to the constituencies represented by the legislators belonging to the opposition parties. A division bench, comprising Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru and Justice CM Poonacha, sought a response from the respondents while directing the matter to be listed on Jan 31, 2026, for consideration. According to the petitioner, CMIDP introduced in the 2025–26 budget provides Rs 50 crore for development works in constituencies represented by ruling party MLAs, while only Rs 25 crore is allocated to those held by the opposition members. He said this is in violation of Article 14 of the Constitution, or the right to equality, and the Directive Principles of State Policy enshrined in Articles 38 and 39 of the Constitution. “Other constituencies in the Bagalkot district, such as Mudhol, Bilagi, Badami, Bagalkot, and Hungund, which stand on the same footing as the Jamkhandi assembly constituency, are allocated Rs 50 crore from the CMIDP only because they are represented by MLAs belonging to the ruling party. This yardstick is being adopted across the state. This will create inequality in facilities and opportunities for the Jamkhandi assembly constituency, bringing it at par with other constituencies,” the BJP MLA added in his petition, while seeking Rs 50 crore allocation for his constituency.