Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru/Mangaluru

Bengaluru/Mangaluru, Jun 2: The Karnataka High Court has expressed strong displeasure over the state government's failure to conduct elections for the Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) even 15 months after its previous term ended. Hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking immediate directions to conduct the polls, the court issued an urgent notice to the state government and the state election commission.

A division bench headed by chief justice Vibhu Bakhru admitted the petition filed by Rahiman Khan Lohani, a senior journalist and resident of Attavar in Mangaluru. The bench ordered the issuance of notices to the respondents, including the urban development department, the state election commission, and the Mangaluru City Corporation, and posted the next hearing to August 25.

Violation of constitutional mandate

The petitioner's counsel brought several key points to the court's attention. The five-year term of the MCC officially ended on February 27, 2025. According to the regulations, the election process should have been completed prior to this date. However, even after 15 months, the government has shown no indication of holding fresh elections, leaving the civic body entirely under the control of an administrator.

The petition argued that this delay is a clear violation of Article 243-U of the Indian Constitution, which mandates that the process to elect the next local body must commence at least six months before the expiration of its term. The petitioner claimed the constitutional intent has been completely disregarded in this case.

Lack of basic amenities and bureaucratic rule

The PIL extensively detailed the hardships faced by the citizens of Mangaluru due to the absence of an elected council. With no elected mayor, deputy mayor, or corporators in place, the public lacks designated representatives to address their grievances. Ward-level development works have reportedly come to a complete standstill, leaving residents struggling with inadequate basic infrastructure, including roads, drinking water, and drainage systems.

The petitioner further highlighted that the lack of responsible governance by elected representatives has left the administrative system entirely in the grip of the bureaucracy, defeating the core concept of a responsive administration.

Appealing for the protection of democratic values and public interest, the petitioner urged the court to issue strict directives to the state government and the election commission to conduct the MCC general elections without further delay.

The public is now keenly observing what explanation the state government and the election commission will provide to the court by August 25 regarding the electoral future of the coastal city's premier civic body.