Mangalore Feb 7, 2013 : The court has finally ruled that the election of Gulzar Banu as Mayor of Mangalore, a year ago, in an unexpected turn of events, was valid. Incidentally, the ruling by the Third Additional Court comes when Gulzar Banu has just 15 more days left in office.
The Court while rejecting the petition filed by BJP corporators Roopa D Bangera and Premaand Shetty, has ruled that they pay the court charges.
Reacting to the development, Mayor Gulzar Banu said though the ruling has come quite late, she was happy and also said she had the satisfaction of discharging her duties effectively by taking everyone into confidence.
It may be recalled here that Gulzar Banu was chosen for the top post on March 7 last year after the BJP candidate for the mayoral post had failed to submit her caste certificate in the required format while filing nomination. Her nomination was subsequently rejected by the election officer who declared the Congress candidate Gulzar Banu as elected, by default.
Though Roopa Bangera had moved the High Court, it had directed that the case be heard by the district court.