Patna The Patna High Court on Tuesday termed as “illegal” the reservation of seats for Other Backward Classes and Most Backward Classes in urban local body elections.
A division bench of Chief Justice Sanjay Karol and Justice S Kumar directed the State Election Commission to conduct elections by re-notifying the seats reserved for OBCs, including them in general category seats. This order, passed on a holiday, may hamper the ongoing election process. The first phase of polling was to be held on October 10, less than a week from now.
In its previous order dated September 29, the court reserved its order and said that the ongoing election process would be subject to the outcome of the petition pending before the court and the State Election Commission may, if it considers it necessary to change the schedule.
Accordingly, on 30 September, the State Election Commission issued a circular to all the concerned District Magistrates saying that the first phase of polling which is scheduled on 10 October, its election process and result will be covered by the decision passed by the Patna High Court in the said petition and the said intention The information was also asked to be given to all the candidates.
