The Rajasthan government has approached the Supreme Court seeking a postponement of elections for 113 urban local bodies (ULBs) across the state. In a Special Leave Petition (SLP) filed before the apex court, the state administration cited the High Court's decision to nullify the delimitation process for these bodies as the primary reason for the requested delay. The government maintains that conducting elections without completing a fresh delimitation process is administratively unfeasible.
High Court Ruling on Delimitation
The legal challenge stems from a Rajasthan High Court order that invalidated the delimitation of wards in 113 out of 309 urban bodies. While the total number of wards in these municipalities remained unchanged, the internal boundaries were restructured by the state. The High Court, while presiding over approximately 439 petitions, ruled that the boundary changes weren't in accordance with established norms and subsequently set them aside.
Details of the Special Leave Petition
In its petition to the Supreme Court, the state government emphasized that the High Court's requirement to restart the delimitation process necessitates a significant amount of time. The process involves mapping, inviting public objections, hearing grievances, and issuing final notifications. The government argued that the current schedule doesn't provide a sufficient window to complete these statutory requirements before the election dates.
Existing Judicial Deadlines
On November 14, the Rajasthan High Court had directed the state government to ensure that both panchayat and urban body elections are conducted by April 15. Also, the court had set a deadline of December 31 for the completion of the delimitation process. Although the Supreme Court had previously upheld the April 15 deadline during hearings on related petitions, the state now seeks a revision based on the specific complications arising from the 113 affected bodies.
Administrative Challenges and Legal Implications
The state administration highlighted that conducting elections on the basis of invalidated boundaries would lead to further legal complications and potential litigations. According to officials, a fresh delimitation is essential to ensure fair representation and adherence to the High Court's directives. The government is seeking an extension to ensure that the electoral rolls and ward boundaries are legally sound before the voting process commences.