HC directive on election results for Ratnagiri Council

Mumbai, Dec 19 (UNI) The Bombay High Court today directed that the Ratnagiri Municipal Council, which has its Presidential elections tomorrow, should not declare its results officially until further orders.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice Harjeet Singh Bedi and Justice V M Kanade were hearing a petition filed by one of the councillors challenging a notification issued by the urban development department (UDD) of the Council on November 16. The notification amends the method of voting from secret ballot to raising hands.

Petitioner Shammi Naglekar has submitted that the UDD does not have the power to amend rules. Also, the councillors would not be in a position to vote freely and without fanfare thus violating their fundamental right to vote by secret ballot.

The petitioner has sought to stay the notification until the pendency of the case but the relief was not granted today.

The case will come up for further hearing in due course.

UNI ARM OBB AG2008