Bengaluru/Karwar: The Karnataka High Court on Friday stayed the special court proceedings against former MLA of Karwar Satish Sail and others in connection with their alleged involvement in illegal mining.

The court was hearing a batch of petitions challenging the non-issuance of necessary notification by the government for constituting a special court under the Prevention of Corruption Act. Justice John Michael Cunha was hearing the petition filed by former Karwar MLA Satish Sail and others who have challenged the proceedings on the ground that the notification was not issued by the government for constituting special court to try cases registered against the elected representatives, as provided under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

Justice Cunha stayed the proceedings and asked the Registrar General of the High Court to get appropriate orders from the government.

The petitioners have claimed that Section 3(1) of the Prevention of Corruption Act mandates the government to issue a notification for conferring jurisdiction to try the cases against elected representatives.

As per the directions of the Supreme Court, a special court was constituted to try the cases against MLAs/MPs, but no notification was issued in this regard.