The High Court said that a detailed investigation of the petition is necessary. (agent)
Bangalore:
The Karnataka State Election Commission on Tuesday told the Karnataka High Court that the state government has been stripped of its powers for being unable to hold elections to district panchayats (ZPs) and taluk panchayats (TPs) as mandated by the Supreme Court.
A Vacation Bench of the High Court comprising Justice SG Pandit and Justice MG Uma heard the Election Commission’s petition today.
Following the Supreme Court’s direction last week to conduct ZP-TP elections immediately, the commission filed a memorandum before the high court for hearing the pending petition citing emergency.
The High Court asked the counsel for the Commission why the memo was filed before it instead of following the directions of the Supreme Court.
The counsel submitted to the court that the state government has withdrawn the power of the Election Commission to delimit constituencies and prepare reservation lists. Without these the State Election Commission was unable to announce the election schedule.
The state had constituted a separate panel for delimitation and reservation, even though the Election Commission had completed the exercise on its own. This was challenged by the Election Commission in the High Court.
The court observed that a detailed examination of the petition was necessary and adjourned the hearing till May 23.
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