The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : State says BBMP polls only after redoing quota

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Wednesday, Feb 10, 2010
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

State says BBMP polls only after redoing quota

Staff Reporter

Some former Mayors challenge rescinding of poll process

SEC seeks revised list of reservation of wards of the BBMP
State says reservation of wards will have to be redone as per Supreme Court order

BANGALORE: The State Government on Tuesday said “it is impossible to announce the calendar of events for holding elections to the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) before taking steps for framing guidelines and redoing the reservation”.

The State made this submission in a statement of objections it filed in a public interest litigation (PIL) petition by several Mayors challenging the January 29, 2010 notification of the State Election Commission (SEC) rescinding the election process.

In its statement, the State said the reservation of wards would have to be redone as per the Supreme Court order of January 28, 2010. It said objections would have to be called for and preliminary notification issued before the reservation is finalised.

It said the SEC could announce the calendar of events only when the reservation and other aspects are considered.

It said all the procedural aspects would have to be looked into, considered and taken care of before the poll process is announced.

Additional Advocate-General K.M. Nataraj said the statement is filed only with respect to the PIL relating to the January 29, 2010 notification of the SEC.

He said Monday’s statement was filed in an earlier PIL by P.R. Ramesh challenging the delay in holding elections.

SEC application

The State Election Commission (SEC) on Tuesday filed an application before the High Court seeking a direction to the State Government to hand over to it expeditiously the revised list of reservation of wards of the BBMP.

The SEC said it could hold the elections only after the Government gave it the list of revised wards.

In a related development, a Division Bench comprising Justice Manjula Chellur and Justice S. Abdul Nazir adjourned to Wednesday a PIL petition by P.R. Ramesh, J. Hutchappa, M. Ramachandrappa and others challenging the January 29, 2010 notification by the SEC rescinding the poll process of the BBMP.

Appearing for the State Government, Mr. Nataraj questioned the maintainability of the petition.

He also said that the State had filed its statement with regard to the pleadings in the PIL. He said the State had on Monday filed an application seeking extension of time by six months for holding elections to the BBMP.

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