UP files counter affidavit in local bodies polls case

Allahabad, July 14 (UNI) Uttar Pradesh government and state Chief Election Commissioner (CEO) today filed counter affidavits in the Allahabad High Court regarding the holding of nagar nigams polls.

The counter affidavits filed by the UP chief secretary, the CEO and the urban development principal secretary disclosed the polls would be completed by September 23, 2006 as per the fixed schedule.

The HC admitted the records and granted a weeks' time to the petitioner to file reply.

Passing the order on a contempt petition filed by Rakesh Kumar Singh, Justice D P Singh posted the next hearing to July 21.

UP advocate general S M A Kazmi pointed out the state was keen to holding the elections at every stage within time.

However, the delay occurred due to innumerable petitions filed at various stages.

He said UP had religiously followed the various dictums of the HC issued on October 28, 2005, December 22, 2005 and February 6, 2006 in various writ petitions and every order had to be honoured by making some legislative and procedural excercise.

However, in view of the order issued by the contempt court on May 23, 2006, UP took a decision simply to honour the order passed by Justice D P Singh to bring the law in tune with the dictum of this court.

It was further been followed by the framing of time table for the initiation of fresh excercise for the reservation of seat and holding of elections, the copy of which had also been annexed alongwith the affidavit filed on behalf of the chief secretary as well as principal secretary, urban development, Government of Uttar Pradesh.

UNI XC VS RA VC2045