Supreme Court rejects plea for reverting to ballots in elections
CJ-led bench directs listing of the BBMP poll case after 4 weeks for final disposal
Karnataka government had filed a special leave petition before the SC, which had stayed the Karnataka HC order directing early elections to BBMP Council
BENGALURU:
If one were to take a straw poll of Bengalureans today, a majority would almost certainly want an end to the babudom that has governed the city since September last year and the return of elected representatives, a.k.a. corporators. Now, there’s a good chance that the long-delayed BBMP Council elections will be held sooner than later. Citizens’ hopes rest on the fact that the BBMP elections case has been listed in the Supreme Court for final hearing and disposal after four weeks.
The stalemate in holding the civic elections was a fall-out of the Karnataka government going in appeal to the apex court against the Karnataka High Court’s order of December 12 last year directing early elections to the BBMP Council. Ever since, the matter has been lying before the Supreme Court registrar.
Also read: HC orders ‘overdue’ BBMP polls
Virtual hearing
However, on Wednesday, an end to the long delay appeared in sight after the matter was orally mentioned in the coram (presence) of Chief Justice NV Ramana, Justice Surya Kant and Justice Hima Kohli. The judges via video-conferencing heard the counsel for both the Special Leave petitioner (the Karnataka government) and the respondents, among them Congress ex-corporators M Shivaraju and Abdul Wajid.
Upon hearing counsel for respondent No. 2 (Abdul Wajid) seeking urgent listing of the matter, the CJ directed that the matter be listed after four weeks before an appropriate bench for final disposal.
Earlier, on September 29, the State Election Commission represented by advocate Sahil Tagotra had requested urgent listing of the matter before a Supreme Court judge.
Also Read: BBMP elections: Karnataka poll panel wants urgent listing in SC
Also read: Bengalureans, don’t expect BBMP elections for at least 1.5 years!
Also read: BBMP elections: SC grants 4 weeks’ time for counter-affidavits
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