Debarring parties from civic polls: HC asks govt to file reply on PIL

The Allahabad High Court asked the Uttar Pradesh government on Wednesday to reply to a petition challenging the validity of the state’s proposed move to debar political parties from contesting civic elections. The court has asked the government to file its reply within two weeks. The order was passed by a Division Bench comprising Chief Justice F I Rebello and Justice A P Shahi. The court also asked the petitioners — People’s Union for Civil Liberties and a Congress leader from Mathura,Abdul Jabbar — to file their rejoinders within a week of the state government filing the counter-affidavit. The court will hear the case next on August 3. The petitioners have challenged Section 4 (2) of the UP Municipality Election of Members,Corporators,Chairmen and Mayors Rules 2010,terming it unconstitutional. According to Section 4(2),the elections of members,corporators,chairpersons and mayors would not be held on party lines. The petitioners have alleged that the aforesaid provision,which has also been published in the official gazette dated June 18,2010,was ultra vires of the Constitution.