Mah Election Commissioner moves HC over election laws

By Staff
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Google Oneindia News

Mumbai, June 12 (UNI) Maharashtra Election Commissioner Nand Lal today moved the Bombay High Court while objecting to the provisions in the election laws, which allow the state government to conduct polls for the posts of presiding officers of local self-government bodies such as Gram Panchayat and Zilla Parishad.

In his petition, Mr Lal said a number of state election laws are unconstitutional and they binge upon the Election Commissioner's powers.

Citing the instance of the 73rd constitutional amendement, he contended that these elections also come under the purview of the state election commissioner and therefore these laws should be amended.

Advocate Ranjit More, representing Mr Lal, told reporters that they have challenged various provisions of Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act 1988, Bombay Provincial Municipal Corporation Act 1949, City of Nagpur Corporation Act 1948, Maharahstra Zilla Parishad and Panchayat Samitis Act 1961, Bombay Village Panchayat Act 1958, Maharashtra Municipal Councils, Nagar Panchayat and Industrial Township Act 1965.

''Though the election commission conducts polls to the local self- government bodies, elections to posts of their presiding officers are conducted by the Maharashtra government,'' he said. ''For instance, elections for Sar Panch's post or Mayor's post are conducted by collector,'' he explained.

''This flies in the face of the 73rd constitutional amendment.

Also, after the amendment came into effect, the state legislatures were supposed to change state election laws accordingly. But that did not happen in Maharashtra,'' Adv More added.

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