The Hindu : National : Plea on delimitation rejected

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Plea on delimitation rejected

Legal Correspondent

Court tells the petitioner it is a political decision

New Delhi : The Supreme Court on Friday declined to give any direction to the Centre to notify the implementation of the Delimitation Commission report on demarcation of constituencies and to hold future elections on the basis of 2001 census.

A Bench, comprising Justice K.G. Balakrishnan and Justice D.K. Jain, told senior counsel Rajeev Dhavan, appearing for petitioner Ashok Yeshu Sankwalkar that since it was a political decision, the court could not issue any direction to the Union Cabinet to take a stand.

When the Bench indicated that it would dismiss the petition, counsel sought withdrawal of the plea. The Bench dismissed it as withdrawn with liberty to approach the authorities concerned for relief.

Completed

The petitioner said the Commission had completed the task of delimitation of constituencies in several States and the same published in the gazette.

Citing the example of Goa, he pointed out that the State is going to the polls in February 2007. Though the polls ought to be held on the basis of readjusted territorial constituencies on the basis of 2001 census, the same was not brought into force.

He contended that once the Commission made a bona fide determination, it must be acted upon and given effect to and not doing so would be subversive of democracy.

The petitioner sought a direction to the Centre to notify the delimitation order in respect of Goa before the scheduled polls so that the elections could be held on the basis of 2001 census.

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