The Madras High Court said that it appeared the local body elections in Tamil Nadu had been notified in a hurry. The court made the observation on Tuesday, while hearing a writ petition filed by DMK’s organising secretary, reported the Times of India.
DMK had approached the court seeking a directive to the state election commissioner to hold the civic pols sticking to the reservation norms for Scheduled Tribes, noting that there was not a single ST candidate in all 200 wards of the Chennai corporation. Arguing that notification process was not open at all, he also said that the election schedule was announced at 6:15pm on a Sunday, which was a holiday while filing of nominations was scheduled for the next day.
The Advocate General said the five-year term of the local bodies cannot be extended and it was mandatory that elections be held before the current term expires on October 24.
Tamil Nadu will go to polls for local bodies in two phases on Octobebr 17 and 19 while counting of votes will take place on October 21.
The High Court has called for details of schedules and reservation from earlier elections. The matter will come up for hearing on Thursday.
