SC directs TN govt to use 2011 census data

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court Wednesday directed the Tamil Nadu government and the state poll panel to conduct upcoming local bodies’ election by relying on 2011 census instead of the 1991 census as alleged by opposition party DMK.

In its fresh plea, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) has sought quashing of the notification, issued by the state poll panel on December 7, for local bodies’ election alleging that it did not provide quota for women and SC and ST candidates as per the 2011 census and was using 1991 census for this purpose.

“We feel that the interest of justice is subserved by issuing a direction to the respondents (state government and poll panel) to apply 2011 census to all impending elections irrespective of the number of seats determined by the delimitation commission after carrying out the delimitation exercise,” a bench headed by Chief Justice S A Bobde said in its order.

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 in four months.

The bench on Wednesday modified its earlier order and asked the delimitation commission to conclude the delimitation exercise within three months in nine districts. It, however, had said that Tamil Nadu State Election Commission (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.

DMK, in its plea, has sought a direction to the state government and the poll panel to quash the election notification issued on December 7.

Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for the state government, opposed the plea saying it was a “bogus” petition intended to stall the election process which was on. The reservation of seats in wards are being given under the 2011 census, he said.