CHENNAI: The Madras High Court has directed the Pondicherry State Election Commission to hold civic elections in the Union Territory within four months. Elections to the local bodies were last held in 1968.

The First Bench comprising Chief Justice A.P. Shah and Justice F.M. Ibrahim Kalifulla passed the order on a public interest litigation petition filed by one T. Ashok Kumar. The Bench gave the direction after counsel for the Pondicherry Election Commission said it was "possible to hold elections for all the local bodies within four months."

Counsel for the petitioner contended that the Union Territory, which comprised the erstwhile French establishments Pondicherry, Karaikal, Mahe and Yanam, came into existence in August 1962. Since 1968 no elections were held for the local bodies. Even after the amendment to Part IX of the Constitution, the administration had not taken any effective steps to hold the polls.

Government Pleader T. Murugesan conceded that the Government was duty-bound to hold the elections.

Recording the submissions, the Bench said: "We, accordingly, direct the State Election Commission to hold elections to five municipalities — Pondicherry, Ulavarkarai, Karaikal, Mahe and Yanam, 10 commune panchayats and 98 village panchayats within four months from the date of receipt of a copy of the order."

Pondy may seek time

Our Pondicherry Staff Reporter reports:

Though now it is clear that the elections will be held, it is `uncertain' whether the territorial administration could comply with the four-month time set by the court.

"I have not yet received the order copy. But we may not be able to hold the election in four months. We might ask for about two months extension," Narayana, State Election Commissioner, told The Hindu.

According to an amendment of the Pondicherry Village Panchayats (Registration of Electors) Rules, 1974, elections to the civic bodies have to be conducted based on the latest Assembly electoral roll. The final rolls are yet to be released, he says.

Enquiries in the Chief Electoral Office revealed that the release may take some more time. "Earlier we planned to release the list on January 31 but at a recent review meeting conducted by the Chief Election Commissioner it was decided to recheck the rolls of some of the constituencies. We are expecting an order to this effect in 2-3 days," a senior official said.

Mr. Narayana said that after the release of the list the State Election Commission needed at least a month to announce election.

The conduct of the civic polls depends on the timing of the Assembly election.

"The time period set by the court ends in May. April would be too short. The only possibility is in May and if the Assembly elections were to be held in that month it would clash. The court has told us that in case of a clash we could approach the court again," said Mr. Narayana.

Chief Secretary C.S. Khairwal said that with the court direction the elections had to be held. "It is only the question of four months or six months."

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