State EC directed to hold civic polls by March 30

The Karnataka High Court today rejected the state government's plea for a six-month time to hold city civic polls and directed the State Election Commission to complete the process on or before March 30.

A division bench comprising Justice V Gopalagowda and Justice A S Bopanna refused to grant the government any extension for holding the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) polls.

Passing the order on the interlocutory applications filed by the government and the SES, seeking extension of time, the court directed the state government to issue a notification regarding list of reservation of wards on February 20. The SEC was to commence the election process and announce the calendar of events on February 22.

It directed the government to furnish all the necessary infrastructure and cooperation to the SEC to hold the polls. In its plea, the state government had sought time, citing shortage of staff due to pre-university and SSLC (tenth standard) exams, and also due to work relating to the ongoing 2011 census and house listing work.

The SEC had expressed its inability to hold the polls as the state had not released its reservation of ward list. It also stated it would be difficult to hold the polls as the staff which would be busy with exams, could not be used. Moreover the Gram Panchayat elections were also scheduled to be held in April, it said.