SC to hear DMK’s plea against SEC’s decision

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday agreed to hear on Thursday a fresh plea of the DMK seeking a direction to the State Election Commission to complete formalities such as delimitation of constituencies and reservation aspects before going ahead with the panchayat and local body election in Tamil Nadu.

A bench headed by Chief Justice SA Bobde took note of the submissions of senior advocate AM Singhvi, appearing for the DMK, that the plea needed to be heard urgently as the poll panel announced elections to rural local bodies in Tamil Nadu. Filing of nominations for the elections would commence on December 6, the senior lawyer said, adding that the poll process has been set in motion “without concluding the legal formalities” with regard to delimitation exercise and reservation aspects in the upcoming elections.

The plea, filed through Amit Anand Tiwari, said the state Election Commission has not followed legal requirements, though it informed the apex court about issuing notification for the elections. “The basic legal requirement of publishing draft delimitation proposal/order has not been carried out and in the absence of such publication, neither any objections have been invited or have been received, nor any hearing has been conducted,” the plea said. The DMK alleged that the present Tamil Nadu government was dragging its feet for conducting local body polls.

A senior lawyer said the plea was filed as the poll process has been set in motion ‘without concluding the legal formalities’