HC dismisses plea challenging reservation of 2 Assembly seats

The Allahabad High Court today dismissed a petition challenging reservation of both Dudhi and Obra Assembly constituencies in Uttar Pradesh for Scheduled Tribe candidates.
A division bench comprising justices V K Shukla and Sangeeta Chandra turned down the petition holding that the decision to reserve the seats for ST candidates was taken by the Election Commission on the basis of census data and, hence, the court could not interfere in the matter.
Chandramani Prasad, a Sonebhadra resident, had moved the court contending that reservation of both the seats for STs was effected on the basis of an ordinance promulgated by the Centre in 2013, which was in effect for six months and hence, after the lapse of the period, EC's decision to reserve the seats on the aforementioned basis was not proper.

Earlier Dudhi Assembly constituency was reserved for Scheduled Caste candidates while Obra was a general seat.
The counsel for the Centre and the Election Commission defended the decision to reserve the two seats for STs, saying both the Assembly segments has a notable tribal population, as per the latest census data.
It was also argued by the respondents that as per the Constitution, the poll panel has the right to reserve seats on the basis of census data.
The court concurred with the view of the respondents and dismissed the petition.