The next hearing of the SAS Nagar mayoral election at Punjab and Haryana high court will be held on April 1. The state government on Wednesday sought time to file the amended reply by the next date of hearing.
In the reply already filed, the government defended its move of reserving the mayor’s post for women in SAS Nagar municipal corporation (MC).
The government stated that the reservation was as per the law and the roster was finalised as per the notification of 2012, in accordance with the amended rules for these elections. However, the HC did not seem to be appeased with the government’s reply. The stay on the election would continue till further orders.
The HC asked the both the parties to submit their replies or arguments by the next date of hearing as it did not want to prolong the case.
Three councillors of the newly-elected MC had challenged the government decision of keeping the mayor’s post reserved for women. The HC, while hearing the petition on March 11, had stayed the MC meeting for the election of mayor till further orders.
The petitioners had contended that the government’s decision was contrary to the Punjab Municipal Corporation Act 1976 and the 1996 rules framed on the reservation of mayor’s offices in corporations.
They had contended that according to the amendments carried out in 2012, the post of mayor could be reserved for women at number 17 and but in this case, only the 10th point had been reserved for women.
{{/usCountry}}They had contended that according to the amendments carried out in 2012, the post of mayor could be reserved for women at number 17 and but in this case, only the 10th point had been reserved for women.
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