HC directs SEC to hold elections to MCC council by Nov 15

Team Udayavani, Aug 28, 2019, 10:32 AM IST

Mangaluru: Expressing concern over the delay in holding elections to Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) council, the Karnataka High court on Tuesday, August 28 directed the State Election Commission to conduct the elections on or before November 15.

The divisional bench of the court, comprising Chief Justice Abhay Shreeniwas Oka and Justice Mohammad Nawaz passed the order while hearing a PIL petition filed by Abdul Gafoor and another person from Mangaluru.

The term of the elected council expired on March 12, 2019 and Deputy Commissioner Sasikanth Senthil is acting in-charge of the city until the elections are held.

Clarifying the delay in the elections, the state election commission said that elections were delayed as the notification issued by the State government reserving wards was stayed by the High Court of Karnataka in December 2018 and the stay order was vacated only on May 30, 2019, while also pointing out that the district administration is at present engaged in tackling heavy rain and floods. Further it said that the election process will be completed by the first week of November.