Civic polls: K'taka Govt issues notifications

Bangalore, Mar 22 (UNI) The Karnataka Government today filed an affidavit before the High Court, stating that the notifications regarding reservation of seats for urban local bodies have been issued on March 20 and 21.

The affidavit was filed by Karnataka Urban Development Secretary Subhash Chandra in pursuance of an earlier direction issued by Mr Justice Ramamohan Reddy on a writ petition filed by the State Election Commission, seeking for a direction to the State Government to issue the reservation list in respect of all the 209 urban local bodies. The affidavit was as per section 11, section 138, read with section 352 of the Karnataka Minorities Act and section 7 of the Karnataka Municipal Corporations Act, as also the guidelines issued by the Government Order, dated January 18, 2007.

The SEC contended that inspite of writing to the Government in this regard, it had not taken any step and elections were due in several local bodies following expiry of their terms.

The State Government, along with its affidavit, filed the list of urban local bodies to which elections were due. As per the list, the number of local bodies to which elections were due was 207, urban local bodies six, CMCs 44, TMCs 93 and Town Panchayats 64.

Mr Justice Ramamohan Reddy disposed of the writ petition as the notifications have been issued by the State Government and nothing was left to be adjudicated in the petition.

UNI