SC puts local body polls in 9 new TN districts on hold

A three-judge bench of the Court headed by Chief Justice SA Bobde, said the Delimitation Commission is directed to delimit the nine newly-constituted districts in accordance with the law and decide on the issue of reservation for women and SC/ST candidates and thereafter hold elections for their panchayats at the village, intermediate and district levels within four months.

The nine reconstituted districts are Kancheepuram, Chengalpattu, Vellore, Tirupattur, Ranipet, Villupuram, Kallakurichi, Tirunelveli and Tenkasi.

Paving the way for the elections in the other districts, the Court said, “There shall be no legal impediment against holding elections for panchayats and the State Election Commission shall notify elections for the panchayats at the village, intermediate and districts for rest of the districts.” While conducting elections, proportionate reservation of all levels should be provided in accordance with Rule 6 of Tamil Nadu Panchayats (Reservat8ion of Seats and Rotation of Reserved Seats) Rules, 1995.

The Court observed that in all fairness it must be noted that the Advocate General of Tamil Nadu has also agreed to proceed with the election process as directed. The bench, also comprising B R Gavai and Surya Kant said having analysed issues it was clear that the Constitutional part of Part IX in respect to the statutory provisions cannot be achieved unless the delimitation exercise for constitution of local bodies at all levels in properly undertaken.