Delhi evaluating funds, manpower for municipal bypolls, HC told

The Delhi High Court was on Monday informed by the city government that it was in the process of evaluating the request by the state election commission for release of funds and manpower for holding by-elections in 13 municipal wards in the national capital.

A division bench of Chief Justice G. Rohini and Justice Jayant Nath was told by the Delhi government that it shall ensure that all logistical support as may be practical shall be extended to the state election commission for conduct of the election.

"The Delhi government is in process of evaluating the request of the state election commission for release of funds and the request for manpower and a response shall be made available to the state election commission, which is the primary authority responsible for the conduct of the municipal bodies election," said the affidavit filed by the city government.

"Thus, the Delhi government is in process of taking up these issues with the state election commission and shall ensure that all logistical support as may be practical shall be extended to the state election commission for the conduct of the election to fill up the vacancies in the councillorship," it said.

The affidavit was filed in a public interest litigation (PIL) by 20-year-old law student Sanjana Gahlot after she saw the poor condition of her village in west Delhi and later came to know that there was no councillor to look after the civic issues.

The state election commission had filed an application in the case seeking funds and resources by the Delhi government to hold by-elections in 13 wards.

Filing an application in an ongoing plea that sought to hold by-elections in 13 wards and to fill casual vacancies in the councillorship in all the three units of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), the commission said it needed Rs.21 crore to conduct these elections.