Odisha to move SC against HC order on reservation in ULBs

A senior official of the Urban Development department today said the state government has decided to move the Supreme Court against the Orissa High Court order regarding reservation of seats in different urban local bodies.

Elections in different urban bodies in the state are due later this year.

"The state government will move the Supreme Court against the order of the High Court on the reservation of seats in urban local body elections," director, municipal administration, Sangramjit Nayak, told reporters here.

The Orissa High court has earlier asked the state government not to exceed 50 per cent total reservation of seats for the scheduled castes (SC), scheduled tribes (ST) and other backward classes (OBC) in the non-scheduled areas for the forthcoming ULB polls. This excludes scheduled areas.

The court had also told the state government to limit the reservation of seats for OBCs to not more than 11 per cent as against 27 per cent earlier.

While pronouncing the order in a case related to reservation of seats for Nuapada civic body, the Orissa High Court had also asked the state government not to raise the cap.

Elections to 93 urban local bodies (ULBs) are due. While the term of 66 ULBs, including that of Berhampur Municipal Corporation will end on September 30, 2018, those of 20 others will end on December 4, 2018. Two other ULBs will complete their terms on December 9, 2018.