The Supreme Court on Friday granted Karnataka government eight weeks’ time to hold the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) council elections but refused the State’s plea to conduct fresh delimitation of municipal wards.
A Bench, headed by Chief Justice H.L. Dattu, said the Karnataka government had on May 5, 2015 with its “eyes wide open” given the court an assurance that it would hold the elections in three months, and it cannot go back on its word at this point.
Besides, the Bench said ordering fresh delimitation now would amount to scrapping a single judge decision of the High Court of Karnataka, which the Supreme Court upheld on May 5, to hold the polls as per the 2001 Census figures.
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Mr. Justice Dattu observed that the single judge was then aware of the “peculiar circumstances” of the case and despite knowing of the 2011 Census figures, had opted to direct the State to conduct the polls to avoid any further delay.
“On May 5, you made the statement to us that you are ready to conduct the elections. Now you cannot go back and say that you want to first complete the delimitation or other things. You made the statement with your eyes wide open ... Why did you make such a statement then?” the Chief Justice asked the State government, represented by senior advocate K. Parasaran.