New Delhi, May 11 -- The Supreme Court on Monday granted an interim relief to Congress leader TD Rajegowda, allowing him to continue as the MLA from Karnataka's Sringeri constituency for the time being, despite a recent vote recount that had declared BJP candidate DN Jeevaraj the winner.

A bench of Justices Sanjay Kumar and K Vinod Chandran directed restoration of status quo ante (state of affairs before the recount), while observing that the Returning Officer's exercise of reverifying already validated postal ballots was prima facie invalid.

Thus, restoring Rajegowda as MLA for now, and also directed that steps be taken to restore him as MLA.

"All steps taken in pursuance of the aforestated exercise undertaken by the returning officer...