SC to hear DMK plea on quashing of notification for TN local body polls

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court will hear on Wednesday a fresh plea of DMK seeking quashing of the new notification for local bodies’ election in Tamil Nadu alleging that it did not provide quota for women and SC and ST candidates as per the 2011 census.

A bench headed by Chief Justice S A Bobde took note of the submission of senior advocate A Msinghvi, appearing for Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), that the December 7 notification issued by the Tamil Nadu State Election Commission (TNSEC) does not comply with the Tamil Nadu Panchayats (Reservation of seats and Rotation of Reserved Seats) Rules, 1995.

“We will hear it on Wednesday (December 11),” said the bench which also comprised Justices B R Gavai and Surya Kant. The top court, on December 6, had put on hold the elections for the local bodies in nine new districts, carved out of four existing ones, in the state for complying with legal formalities such as delimitation and reservation.

It had said that TNSEC could proceed with the elections to all panchayats at village, intermediate and district levels in the remaining 31 revenue districts of the southern state. In its fresh plea, the DMK has sought a direction to the state government and the poll panel to quash the election December 7 notification.

The plea has sought compliance of legal requirements, including under “Rule 6 of the Tamil Nadu Panchayats (Reservation of Seats and Rotation of Reserved Seats) Rules” on providing quota to women and SC and ST candidates based on 2011 census before issuing a fresh notification for local bodies polls. It alleged that the state poll panel has violated the apex court’s December 6 order which said that while conducting elections, “the respondents shall provide proportionate reservation, in accordance with the Rule 6” of the Panchayat rules.