Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Apr 27: The hearing that was being conducted by a division bench of the state high court about the reservation list for wards fixed for election to the Mangaluru city corporation (MCC) concluded on Friday April 26. The high court has reserved its verdict in the case.

Several former corporators of MCC had filed writ petitions in their individual capacities in the high court, duly questioning the legality of the reservation criterion fixed by the government. The single judge bench of the high court which had earlier heard the petitions, had upheld the petitions and asked the government to come out with a fresh reservation list. But the state government had appealed against this order of the single judge bench. The division bench of the high court has now completed hearing of the appeal.

The corporators had questioned the reservation list, duly accusing the government of failing to properly follow the rotation system. The election commission had requested the high court to complete hearing by January 10, 2019 and pronounce the judgement. The single judge bench had conducted day-to-day hearing of the case and asked the state government to publish fresh list. But the state government had questioned this judgement by filing an appeal.

The advocate appearing for the government argued before the bench that the reservation list announced by the government is within the framework of the constitution duly keeping in mind the interests of scheduled castes, tribes, other backward classes etc.

The petitioners however, are hopeful that the division bench will uphold the earlier order of the single bench of the high court.