Ms Khurshid demands anew delimitation in Farrukhabad Constituency

New Delhi, Jan 28 (UNI) The Delhi High Court has issued notices to the Election Commission of India, Ministry of Home Affairs, and Delimitation Commission to reply by May 12, on the petition filed by Ex-MLA Ms Louise Khurshid, wife of Congress leader Salman Khurshid, who has challenged the manner of delimitation being carried out in her Parliamentary Constituency of Farrukhabad.

According to the petition filed in the court of Justice Gita Mittal, Ms Khurshid said the Delimitation Commission has deviated from its proposal in the constituency in Uttar Pradesh. It has removed 'Chhiramau', which was supposed to be the part of the same and added 'Aliganj', which has been at a greater distance.

Calling this act 'arbitrary', the petitioner said no objections and suggestions from any side were called for and no reasons were assigned by the commission for doing so, which was violative of Article 14, 19, and 21 of the Constitution and also of Section 9 of the Delimitation Act.

Ms Khurshid said under Section 9(2), the commission has to consider the objections and suggestions received by it and in the absence of such suggestions, its decision will render ex-facie void.

Even the members of the commission were surprised to know that it published the order without holding any meeting with them to consider the objections and suggestions as contemplated under the guidelines and methodology framed by it and as required under Section 9, she added.

Ms Khushid has urged the court to quash the orders dated December 5 and December 18, 2006 passed by the commission regarding the delimitation of the constituency and start the process afresh in accordance with the draft proposals of the commission.

The court will hear the matter on May 12, this year.

UNI SNG GL RN2004