State to file spl leave petition over ULB quota

Move aimed at protecting interests of weaker segments of society

The Government on Friday decided to file a special leave petition in the Supreme Court challenging the Karnataka High Court’s orders, calling for it to release the final notification on the ward reservation.

The list is necessary to conduct elections to Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) in the State. Briefing reporters about the Cabinet decision, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister S Suresh Kumar said that the Cabinet will file the petition to protect the interests of the weaker segments of society.

“The number of seats reserved for SCs and STs will be more if the reservation list is based on the 2011 population census figures,” he said.

The High Court on Thursday dismissed the government’s plea seeking more time to verify all objections received against the draft reservation list and and ordered it to finalise the draft list by Friday evening. The draft list, based on 2001 census figures, was published on December 4. Elections to the ULBs are scheduled to be held in March, 2013.

Suresh Kumar further said the government, through an affidavit, informed the court that three City Municipal Councils (CMC) will become eligible to be upgraded into City Corporations. In addition, 43 Town Municipal Councils will become eligible to be upgraded into CMCs once the 2011 census figures are finalised.

The Directorate of Census will finalise the census figures in March next year. Once the census figures are finalised, re-elections will have to be conducted to all ULBs earmarked for an upgrade, he explained.

Sources added that the government has been facing pressure from legislators across party affiliations to have the UL elections postponed.

Many fear that local leaders denied party tickets may not work for their re-election if ULB elections are held before Assembly electons. Many have also expressed fear that results of the ULB polls may affect Assembly elections.