Date:14/09/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/09/14/stories/2007091457980400.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Corrigendum: hearing on appeals today

Staff Reporter

BANGALORE: The Karnataka High Court posted to Friday appeals by voters against a single judge order of Wednesday staying the corrigendum issued by the State Government to the reservation of wards in some local bodies.

A single judge had on Wednesday allowed petitions by voters of Hubli-Dharwad, Gadag-Betagiri and Chickballapur and stayed the corrigendum issued by the State in respect of reservation of some wards in the bodies. The State Election Commission (SEC) had then submitted to the court that the corrigendum was issued to more than 60 local bodies covering 13 districts.

The single judge had stayed the notification on corrigendum and adjourned further hearing on the case.

One of the voters, affected by the stay of the corrigendum, appealed against the single judge order.

Senior counsel Jayakumar S. Patil, who had appeared before the single judge on behalf of the petitioners (voters), said the corrigendum was arbitrary as no reason was assigned for the change in the reservation of wards. He further submitted that the Supreme Court had stayed a High Court order postponing the elections to the local bodies. He said the State Government then had given an undertaking to the court to complete the entire process of reservation of wards and posts within a specified time.

Advocate-General Uday Holla said the Secretary (Urban Development) could not file an affidavit before the single judge as he was out of town. Therefore, the Under Secretary had filed the affidavit.

A Division Bench comprising Justice K. Sreedhar Rao and Justice L. Narayanaswamy asked the Government advocate to procure the records and also the affidavit of the Under Secretary.

It ordered issue of notices to the State and the State Election Commission.