Telangana High Court questions early polls to local bodies

Hyderabad: The Telangana High Court directed the state government and State Election Commission to explain their stand on holding elections to the municipal corporations and municipalities whose term ends on July 2.

Justice P. Naveen Rao was dealing with a petition filed by Mr Jajula Srinivas Goud, president of the Telangana State Backward Classes Welfare Association, seeking a direction to the State Election Commission to conduct the elections before the tenure of the urban local bodies ended.

The petitioner contended that Article 243U(3) of the Constitution of India mandates that the elections to the municipalities must be completed before the expiry of the terms of the office holders. The government has not taken any initiative towards preparing electoral rolls for municipalities, duly indicating the delimitation of wards, publishing ward wise electoral rolls, and finalising the reservations, he said in the petition.

Counsel for the petitioner informed the court that even though the government was aware of the fact that the term of the existing body expires in July, it had not yet started making pre-poll arrangements. Making such arrangements will take not less than three months, he argued.

Mr Sanjeev Kumar, special counsel for the state government, sought time to get instructions with respect to the issue and stated that there was still enough time to make pre-poll arrangements.

Justice Naveen Rao, after reviewing the submissions of counsels, adjourned the matter to June 11.