MCD polls: HC junks pleas against ward allocation criteria

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court today dismissed the pleas seeking quashing of the notification laying down criteria for allocation of wards for reserved categories and women in the upcoming MCD polls.

A bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Chander Shekhar said the criteria was based on population density of an area and the 2011 census data and after consulting all stakeholders.

The elections to 272 wards of the three municipal corporations in the national capital are scheduled to be held on April 23.

The court upheld the Delhi state election commission's decision, saying it did not violate any provisions of the Delhi Municipal Corporation Act or Article 243 of the Constitution of India.

The Article provides for reservation of seats for the scheduled castes in the municipal area by rotation to different constituency in the municipality.

The bench said there was no merit in the pleas by NGOs and several social activists, who have sought quashing of the notification laying down the manner of allocation of wards for reserved categories and women in the upcoming MCD polls.

The petitioners had claimed that the present notification was contrary to the Constitution as well as the DMC Act and should be quashed and a fresh circular be issued in accordance with the law.