HC stays demarcation and reservation of Shimla MC

Himachal Pradesh High Court issued orders to maintain status quo till the next hearing after preliminary hearing of the petition filed regarding the allegations of re-demarcation and reservation roster for the elections of Municipal Corporation Shimla.  The division bench of Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan and Justice CB Barowalia passed these orders after hearing a petition filed by Simi Nanda, councilor of Nabha ward of Shimla Municipal Corporation.  The applicant has challenged the re-delimitation and reservation roster of these Municipal Corporation Shimla in the court.  On the petition of the applicant, the court has summoned the reply from the Urban Development Department including DC Shimla, Election Commission and SDM Urban and Rural Shimla by 21 March.  While preparing the reservation roster, the prescribed procedure was not followed nor did the instructions of the High Court in this regard be followed. According to the petitioner, the court had ordered the government and the Election Commission that before starting the process of democratic elections, all the formalities should be completed at least 3 months in advance so that all the aggrieved parties can file their objections in time and if required time.  He could present his case before the court.  It is noteworthy that the Election Commission and Urban Development Department have recently issued a notification to create 41 wards by re-demarcation of Municipal Corporation Shimla and the notification of reservation roster related to elections in these wards has also been issued.  The matter will be heard on March 21.