HC pulls up govt on GHMC polls

Directs govt to file affidavit in 7 days on poll dates

Hyderabad: The High Court on Monday reprimanded the Telangana government over inordinate delay in conducting elections to the GHMC. Admitting a petition filed by the Secretary of Forum for Good Governance questioning the action of the government in conducting elections to the GHMC, the High Court directed the government to file an affidavit in seven days on the exact dates for conducting the elections.

Stating that the government cannot remain negligent on conducting elections for the local bodies, the court directed the government to decide on the elections immediately. It is contended that the right to local self- governance is a constitutional right and the same cannot be defeated by a statutory provision.

Sivaraju Srinivas, counsel for the petitioner, pointed out that the failure to conduct the elections to the GHMC within the statutory period would not stand judicial scrutiny. It may be mentioned here that the Telangana government on October 22, 2014, had directed the GHMC to begin the process of delimitation of election wards as per the census of 2011.

The GO Ms No 12, issued by the Municipal Administration Department, was based on the direction of the High Court dated August 25, 2014, wherein the authorities were asked to carry out the delimitation of wards as per the Census 2011 before holding the next GHMC polls.

The GHMC authorities had reportedly sought three-month time to complete the delimitation process. The term of elected GHMC came to an end on December 3, 2014 and the State government has appointed GHMC Commissioner Somesh Kumar as the Special Officer for a period of six months.