Supreme Court rejects plea for reverting to ballots in elections
Apex court okays holding of BBMP council polls for 243 wards as per BBMP Act 2020
BENGALURU:
It’s final: The Supreme Court has pronounced that the elections for BBMP will be undertaken as per the BBMP Act 2020 for 243 wards. The apex court has granted the Karnataka government eight weeks’ time to complete the delimitation process and OBC reservation simultaneously so that the state election commission can go ahead with the election process.
The BBMP elections matter was heard by an SC bench of Justices AM Khanwilkar and JB Pardiwala in court hall 3 on Friday. The solicitor-general requested an adjournment but ended up giving an undertaking to complete the delimitation process for the BBMP polls.
Detailed order
Justice Khanwilkar in his order said: “Heard counsel for the parties. The solicitor-general has invited our attention to the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike Act 2020 which comes into effect from January 11, 2021. Consequent to the said legislation, the state has appointed a commission both for the purpose of delimitation of wards and for determining reservation for the OBC category.
“The process of delimitation of wards is at the final stage and a formal notification will be issued shortly by the state government. To be on the safer side, it is urged that the court may permit the state government to issue a notification regarding delimitation of wards up to eight weeks from now.
“Simultaneously, the state government has assured to put in all efforts to ensure that the work assigned to the dedicated commission concerning the determination of reservation would also be completed within the same time and notified accordingly.
“The assurance given on behalf of the state is placed on record and accepted. In other words, the necessary notification of delimitation of wards and determination for reservation of local bodies/ newly constituted corporation is completed and notified no later than eight weeks from today.
“The Karnataka State Election Commissioner shall commence the preparatory exercise of conducting elections to install the new body of the Greater Bengaluru Corporation constituted under the Act of 2020.
“The election commission can commence that exercise from one week of the delimitation of wards and determination of reservation provided to the OBCs, whichever is later.
“The matter is further listed on July 22 for further orders.”
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