Election of Tumkur zilla panchayat chiefs deferred

The election was slated for Thursday (May 14).

P N Krishnamurthy of Muddanahalli in Koratagere taluk has challenged the May 4 Government notification determining reservation for 29 zilla panchayats in the State.
The petitioner has contended that rotation has not been followed while stipulating reservation. According to rules, the president’s post of Tumkur ZP should have been reserved for General category.

The petitioner has been deprived of an opportunity to contest elections as the post is  reserved for Scheduled Tribe (woman), it said.

Special sitting

The Court, which conducted a special sitting to adjudicate the matter, sought to know the stance of the government on considering the population of respective constituencies, instead of that of the entire state, while determining reservation.

It asked the government to make its stand by filing an affidavit.

The High Court also heard similar petitions questioning reservation of seats for Uttara Kannada and Udupi zilla panchayats. The petitioners from Uttara Kannada have alleged that Siddi tribe, despite being included in Scheduled Caste, has not been given due consideration, while for Udupi, the petitioners have alleged that the reservation pattern adopted on the last occasion has been repeated. The Court has adjourned the hearing.