Apex Court to hear WB plea on civic polls

The Supreme Court will hear on Tuesday the West Bengal government’s plea seeking more time to hold elections to seven municipal bodies which could not go to the polls along with 91 others in April. 

The Apex Court vacation Bench of Justice AK Sikri and Justice Uday Umesh Lalit on Monday agreed to hear the plea by the West Bengal government on Tuesday after senior Kapil Sibal mentioned the matter for an early hearing. Seeking the modification of the state Election Commission’s poll schedule for seven municipal bodies, Sibal told the court that the state government wanted some more time to hold the elections.

The high court by its May 15 order asked the state Election Commission to hold polls to seven local bodies by June 16. The West Bengal government approached the apex court after the Calcutta High court declined its plea for more time and the modification of the schedule issued by the state Election commission. 

These seven civic bodies are Asansol Municipal Corporation, Kulti Municipality, Raniganj Municipality, Jamuria Municipality, Bidhannagar Municipality, Rajarhat-Gopalpur Municipality and Bally Municipality.