A Congress MLC has charged the three with being involved in massive businesses in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh and illegal mining.
Rejecting a plea by three Karnataka ministers, governor HR Bhardwaj today decided to refer to the Election Commission a complaint seeking their disqualification from membership of the state legislature on grounds of conflict of interest.
Bhardwaj's decision came after he concluded hearing on the petition filed by Congress MLC KC Kondaiah, during which none of the ministers, all mine owners, were present but sent their counsel.
"It is a fit case for reference to the Election Commission for its opinion under Article 192(2) of the Constitution and therefore a reference has been made to the Election Commission of India for opinion in the matter," a Raj Bhavan statement said.
In a statement submitted during the hearing, counsel for tourism minister G Janardhana Reddy, his brother and revenue minister G Karunakara Reddy, and their associate and health minister B Sreeramulu sought dismissal of the petition, saying it lacked any material to be referred to the commission.
Karunakara Reddy and Sreeramulu are members of the state assembly while Janardhana Reddy is a member of the state council.
Kondaiah, who also hails from the mine-rich Bellary district, had in his January 13 complaint charged the three with being involved in massive businesses in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh and illegal mining.
Citing conflict of interest, Kondaiah had sought their disqualification, saying their continuing in the cabinet would influence decisions in favour of their business activities.
On the basis of the complaint, the governor on January 19 issued a notice under Article 191 of the Constitution, which relates to disqualification provisions, seeking replies from the Reddy brothers and Sreeramulu.
Earlier, K Raghavacharyalu, counsel for Janardhana Reddy and Sreeramulu, and Ravishankar, counsel for Karunakara Reddy, argued before the governor that these allegations were no grounds to disqualify a member.
Raghavacharyalu told reporters he has also furnished copies of judgements of various courts, including the Supreme Court, to the governor.
Bhardwaj was told that "it is just a political petition filed for political gain", Raghavacharyalu said.
Last month, Bhardwaj had issued show-cause notices to the three ministers asking them to appear before him in person today, which stirred a major controversy, with some BJP leaders, including state unit president KS Eswarappa, mounting a verbal attack on the governor.
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