HC rejects plea challenging quota in local body polls

The Allahabad High Court on Friday rejected the petition challenging the reservation policy of the state government in the elections to the urban local bodies (ULBs) scheduled for June,saying it was not maintainable. However,the court said that the view taken by the state government of treating this election as the “first election” and not taking the 2006 ULB elections in consideration was incorrect and required review.

The Division Bench of Justices R K Agarwal and Mushaffey Ahmed said: “The reservation provided in the notification dated May 23,2012,is on the premise that the present election is the first election to be held after the UP Act Number 25 of 2006 (Uttar Pradesh Municipality Act) has come into force,which is not the correct view and reservation is to be made in accordance with clause (f) of sub-section (5) (1) of Section 9-A of the Act. We are of the view that the reservation as notified.requires to be re-examined.”