HC queries EC on Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls schedule

According to petitioner's lawyer Ashok Pandey, the tenure of the present assembly is up to May 27, hence, any proposal for conducting the elections earlier will not be proper.

Lucknow, Dec 17: Allahabad High Court today sought information from the Election Commission about the forthcoming Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh after a PIL urged that directions be given for conducting the polls in April-May.

The Lucknow bench headed by Justice Amreshwar Pratap Sahi, which was hearing the PIL filed by activist Pratibha Pandey, fixed December 22 as the next date of hearing. According to petitioner's lawyer Ashok Pandey, the tenure of the present assembly is up to May 27, hence, any proposal for conducting the elections earlier will not be proper.

He said that the tenure of present assembly of the state should be completed and in this regard the UP assembly poll may be conducted in the April-May. He also cited convenience of the voters. The counsel for respondents -- central government and the EC -- were present at the time of hearing the PIL, Pandey said. He said that the division bench has asked the EC counsel about any schedule for the elections.

The EC had last week asked the Uttar Pradesh Madhyamik Shiksha Parishad (UPMSP) to put on hold next year's board examination schedule so as to ensure there is no clash with the Assembly polls, which are due early next year. This gave rise to speculation that the UP Assembly polls could be held in February.

PTI