Disqualified members back in civic fray

MAHABALESHWAR, Oct 8: The election officer has given a curious twist to the by-elections to nine municipal wards by accepting the nominations of all seven former municipal council members who were disqualified earlier.

The decision on nominations of the seven former councillors was held in abeyance by election officer Daulat Desai after the legitimacy of the nominations was challenged. Earlier, he had reportedly accepted nominations of 40 other aspirants. Desai had also served show cause notices to the seven disqualified members asking why their nomination papers should not be rejected since they were disqualified by the Supreme Court last April.

At a hearing conducted this morning, advocate H V Veer stated that all seven former members had lost their memberships after they were disqualified by the apex court under the Anti-Defenction Act. Yet, a person disqualified under the Act was not restricted from contesting the elections, Veer said.

Desai upheld his argument and resolved in favour of the former members.