A Division Bench of the High Court on Friday said it would hear submissions on the plea for postponement of announcement results of elections being held for urban local bodies on April 1. The Bench, comprising Chief Justice Kalyan Jyothi Sen Gupta and Justice P.V. Sanjay Kumar, was hearing the arguments in two separate writ petitions. Counsel for the petitioners said announcement of results ahead of the general elections would have the effect of influencing voters. The Bench was not inclined to agree with the proposition and said people are not so gullible. The order of the Supreme Court regarding the postponement of results of elections for MPTC and ZPTC was placed before the Bench. The Bench wanted to know the stand of the State Election Commission regarding passing a similar order for municipalities, municipal corporations and nagar panchayats. When counsel for SEC opposed the proposal, the Bench said that the commission has to explain why it is taking a different stand before the High Court. The Bench was informed that a clarification was being sought from the Supreme Court. The bench adjourned the case to Tuesday.
