Karnataka High Court Dismisses PIL Against DK Shivakumar's Swearing-In as CM

The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday dismissed a public interest litigation challenging Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar's appointment as Chief Minister, terming the plea "frivolous" and filed only for publicity. A bench led by Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru imposed ₹50,000 costs on petitioner Mangalappa from Hubballi, to be deposited with the State Legal Services Authority within two weeks.

The petitioner had argued that Shivakumar's swearing-in with 13 ministers violated Article 164(1A) of the Constitution, claiming Karnataka's 224-member Assembly required at least 24 ministers. The court clarified that the provision mandates a minimum of 12 ministers total—not 12 per cent of assembly strength—and held that 14 members satisfied constitutional requirements.