DCs told to issue reservation roster for 74 ULBs by July 22

The State Election Commission (SEC) today directed all deputy commissioners (DCs) to issue reservation roster for the 74 urban local bodies by July 22 by 5 pm following vacation of stay by the state high court in a related matter. This is the third date which has been issued this month by the SEC for declaring the roster.

Pertinently, the execution of the notification issued by the SEC on May 24 for delimitation of the wards of ULBs had been stayed by the state high court July 9. This had put on hold the task of issuing reservation roster which was also part of the same notification. The SEC has earlier asked all DCs to issue this roster by July 11 and the date was later extended to July 15 as several DCs could not accomplish the task. It was later put on hold in light of a stay issued by the high court on petition filed by a Mandi resident.

The SEC, however, directed all DCs to issue this roster by July 22 as the high court stay was vacated today.

The Commission directed the officers to take into account the provisions of HP Municipal Election Rules, 2015 and HP Municipal Corporation Election Rules, 2012 besides the instructions issued by the state government to work out the reservation.

While reservation of wards in the municipal corporations is supposed to be done on the basis of proportion of the population, the SEC made it clear that no notice is required to be issued under the rules for this task. Notices will, however, be issued for the other ULBs comprising nagar panchayats and municipal councils as per Rule 10(8) of the relevant Act.

The commission also expressed its displeasure at the role of some DCs who had sought vague clarifications at a belated stage merely to delay the process conveyed an order issued today by the Surjeet Singh Rathore, secretary, SEC.

This fresh development has once again increased the anxiety among the DCs as the ruling Congress was reluctant to work out the roster in a bid to delay the polls slated to be held by the year end or early next year.

Since 50 per cent wards are reserved for the women in the ULBs besides reserving others for the candidates of the reserved categories on a rotation basis, it will hit the political prospects of the aspiring and sitting councillors. Though the state government did try in vain to postpone the roster on the pretext of non-availability of the latest census figures and that the decision would be taken only in the cabinet, it has failed to hold water before the SEC which was a constitutional authority working as per the relevant rules.

With the government now having a hobson’s choice it remains to be seen whether the roster would be worked out by July 22 or more maneuvering would follow as much was at stake for the ruling Congress.

Himachal Tribune