Oct 22 2015 : The Times of India (Mumbai)
Ahmedabad
IMES NEWS NETWORK
In a setback to the state government, the Gujarat high court on Wednesday quashed its ordinance to delay local body polls for three months. It also termed as “unconstitutional“ the three amendments the government had brought in on October 3 to panchayat and municipal corporation laws to decide on delaying elections and appoint administrators till next the elected body takes over.
The HC criticized the state election commission (SEC) for toeing the government line and directed it to hold all civic body elections immediately as per the constitutional mandate. It ordered the government to provide all support to the EC for conducting free and fair polls.
On October 3, the SEC had issued a notification postponing local bodies polls, citing the law and order situation in the wake of the Patel quota stir.