HC directs Bengal to conduct municipal polls

Kolkata, Jan 29: The Calcutta High Court on Friday directed that all steps should be taken to hold municipal elections in West Bengal as early as feasible since the terms of the councillors have long expired.
The court said that as far the date or dates for holding the municipal elections are concerned, the decision is to be taken by the State Election Commission and the state government in consultation with each other, fairly and judiciously, taking all logistic factors into consideration, so that a peaceful and an uninterrupted electoral process for the municipal bodies is undertaken.
Noting that the terms of the councillors of the municipal bodies in question has long expired, a division bench comprising justices IP Mukerji and Md Nizamuddin directed that “all steps should be taken to convene and hold the municipal election as early as it is feasible”. Passing the order on two PILs praying for a direction to hold elections to 106 municipalities and six municipal corporations in the state, the court observed that the issue pertaining to Kolkata Municipal Corporation is pending adjudication before the Supreme Court and hence is not under its consideration. (PTI)