State to file SLP in SC on reservation list issue

The Karnataka high court had dismissed the application of the state government seeking two weeks time to publish the list

The Karnataka government has decided to file a special leave petition in the Supreme Court challenging the High Court direction to it to furnish to the State Election Commission by on Friday, the final reservation list for the urban local bodies elections.

“It was the opinion of everybody (in the Cabinet) to file an SLP,” Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister, S Suresh Kumar, who also holds the Urban Development portfolio, told reporters on Friday after the emergency cabinet meeting, chaired by Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar.

Dismissing the application filed by the state government seeking two weeks time to publish the list, the High Court yesterday directed the government to do so by on Friday. Kumar said the State government’s contention is that the Census department had informed that official final figures of the 2011 census would be available (only) in March, and “we have to conduct elections thereafter”.

Also, if the state were to hold polls now, it would have to conduct elections again in the state in six months as a number of city corporations, town municipal councils and town panchayats are eligible for upgradation of their status based on the population figures of 2011, he said.

In addition, the population of SCs and STs in particular had increased as of last year compared to 2001 and “so when we earmark reservation, there should be no injustice to the weaker sections”, the minister said. Kumar said the decision to file the SLP was taken after consulting officials concerned and Advocate General.