HC orders local elections in Pondicherry

The Madras High Court has directed the Pondicherry Election Commission to hold elections to local bodies.

The Madras High Court has directed the Pondicherry Election Commission to hold elections to local bodies, including five municipalities, in the Union Territory within four months from receipt of the court order.

HT Image

Disposing of a writ petition, a division bench, comprising Chief Justice AP Shah and Justice FM Ibrahim Kallifulla, said "we direct the State Election Commission (SEC),Pondicherry to hold elections to five municipalities in the Union Territory namely Pondicherry, Ulavarkarai, Karaikal, Mahe and Yanam, 10 commune panchayats and 98 village panchayats within a period of four months from date of receipt of copy of the order."

Taking note of SEC's submission that it was possible to hold elections to all local bodies in the union territory, the bench observed that elections to local bodies were last held in 1968.

The PIL filed by T Ashok Kumar sought a direction to the Centre, Government of Pondicherry and SEC to hold local body elections in the Union Territory and enforce the mandate enshrined in Part IX of the Constitution.