HC asks Delhi Government to submit schedule of MCD election

New Delhi, Jan 10 (UNI) The Delhi High Court today asked the Delhi Government, State Election Commission and Municipal Corporation of Delhi(MCD) to submit the schedule of the Municipal elections by January 25 in response to a petition filed by some BJP leaders.

A division bench headed by Justice Swatanter Kumar asked the authorities to file their replies to the petition by January 25, the next date of hearing.

The state unit of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on January 7, had filed a petition in Delhi High Court seeking direction to the authorities to conduct the Municipal Corporation of Delhi(MCD) election by April 10, 2007.

BJP leaders Subhash Arya, Vijendra Gupta and Arti Mehra in the petition alleged that the ruling Congress government led by Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit was planning to postpone the MCD election fearing wrath of the public due to demolition and sealing drives in the capital.

The petition filed by Counsel Alok Kumar has made Central and State governments, Lt. Governor, State Election Commission and MCD as respondents.

Citing an example, the petition alleged that the State Assembly did not take up the report submitted by the state delimitation committee today.

The last election to the MCD was held on March 28, 2002 and the election is scheduled to be held by the end of March 2007.

The Delimitation Committee in its report suggested increase of municipal wards to 272 from 134.

The state assembly has to approve it with the amendment of the relevant provisions as the state assembly did not start the procedure on time, alleged the petition.

The petition has sought direction to the respondents to expedite the process of the election in the state.

UNI