New Delhi, July 27: The Delhi High Court has issued notices to the Centre and the president of Secunderabad Cantonement Board on a petition seeking direction to the Defence Ministry to nominate a civilian member on it or hold fresh elections as per the Cantonments Act 1924. While issuing the notice, justice B D Ahmad asked the respondents to file their replies within four weeks and posted the matter for further hearing on October one. Claiming that government's action of not nominating a civilian member to the board was against Article 14 (Right to Equality) and Article 21 (Right to Life and Personal Liberty), petitioner N Rajeshwar sought to restrain the board from holding any meeting until a civilian member was nominated. The petition filed through counsel M Sharda also claimed that rights of the civilian population in Secunderabad Cantonment board area were seriously affected on account of their non-representation. The petitioner alleged that on the other cantonment boards at Agra, Ahmednagar, Ramgarh, Ranikhet, Roorkee, Sangur, Shahjahanpur, Shillong, St Thomas Mount and Subathu too there was no civilian member.

Bureau Report.