High Court instructs KEC to postpone Local Bodies Elections

Bangalore, Aug 7 (UNI) The Karnataka High Court today directed the Karnataka Election Commission (KEC) to postpone the August 30 elections to Urban Local Bodies to September in view of the prevailing bad weather conditions in the state.

Disposing off a public interest litigation submitted by two individuals seeking postponement of elections the two-member bench Karnataka high court directed the KEC to issue fresh calender of events for the elections. The bench chaired by Karnataka High Court Chief Justice Cyriac Joseph and Justice Rammohana Reddy were also informed by Karnataka Advocate General that the date fixed by the KEC clashed with Muslim festival and the enforcement authorities would be busy in maintaining law and order. The political parties also sought postponement of elections in the State legislature.

The petitioners contended that the South-West-Monsoon was battering the State resulted in large scale destruction of both private and public properties. The torrential rains would make it very difficult for the people to participate in the August 30 elections as announced by the KEC.

The petitioners also contended that when they approached KEC to postponement of elections the latter informed that elections were being held as per the directions of the Karnataka High Court. The torrential rains which also caused floods in many parts of the state would come in the way of exercising their votes.

However the KEC counsel contended that elections could not be postponed as it was already announced and the process was set in motion. In this circumstances it was not be possible to postpone the elections, the KEC Counsel maintained.

However after hearing all the parties the two-judge bench in its interim order had directed the KEC to postpone the elections and announce fresh calender of events to be completed before September 30 this year. "The elections shall not be fixed beyond 30th of September" the bench stated.

UNI