THE STATE Government will file two affidavits before the Allahabad High Court on Friday in connection with the local bodies elections.
On Thursday, the officials were busy preparing the affidavits—one from Chief Secretary Navin Chandra Bajpai and the other from the principal secretary, Urban Development.
The CS has sought exemption from personal appearance citing his meeting with the ambassador of Japan on Friday. The HC, it maybe recalled, had on Monday directed Bajpai and the secretary, Urban Development to appear in person on September 8 for not issuing notification for holding local bodies elections in the State in spite of the court orders.
It has been emphasised in these five-page affidavits that a constitutional crisis will arise if elections to the local bodies are held at this stage. On the other hand, it has been learnt that the CS would not be able to appear in person before the court in the matter because of his preoccupation and an affidavit on his behalf was filed before the court today itself.
The issue of reservation of seats for chairman of local bodies and that of Mayors has been cited as a major stumbling block by the State Government for not conducting the polls. The arrangement that existed was done away with after the courts said that due process of law was not followed in this connection.
{{/usCountry}}The issue of reservation of seats for chairman of local bodies and that of Mayors has been cited as a major stumbling block by the State Government for not conducting the polls. The arrangement that existed was done away with after the courts said that due process of law was not followed in this connection.
{{/usCountry}}Subsequently, the State Government issued an ordinance in compliance of the court order to give reservation legal sanctity.
Later, a Bill related to reservation for chairman and Mayors was introduced in the Vidhan Sabha and passed with amendment. It still awaits the nod of the Upper House. With this, the reservations would be made on rotational basis. In such circumstances, if the Government announced elections to the local bodies it would entail a constitutional crisis. The Government has maintained that though it has made all the necessary arrangements, it would not be possible to hold the local bodies elections as per the previous system unless the Bill is approved by the Vidhan Parishad.