Notification changing reservation for Mangalore Mayor poll quashed

Bangalore, Sep 14 (UNI) The Karnataka High Court today directed the Government to hold elections to the offices of Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Mangalore City Municipal Corporation, applying the roaster system notified for 2002-2007, while quashing the July ten notification changing the reservation system.

Rejecting the Government's contention that it was a policy matter and beyond judicial scrutiny, Mr Justice B S Patil allowed a writ petition, filed by city corporator Vijaya Aruna, challenging the July ten notification issued by the State Government changing the reservation from 'General Woman' category for Mayor's office and 'BC' for that of Deputy Mayor to 'General' and 'General Woman' respectively.

The court observed that abrupt changes on the eve of elections would suffer from vice of ''legal malice''.

The petitioner had contended that the roaster system for the period 2002-2007 had been announced on August two, 2005, in accordance with the roaster being followed for the five-year term.

Hence, the Government was bound to continue the roaster applicable for the office of Mayor and Deputy Mayor being reserved for 'General Woman' and 'BC' categories. However, it had been abruptly changed by issuing the impugned notification, she submitted. UNI XR GD SKB2040