Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (MM/NR)

Mangalore, Aug 14: Former corporators of the city have now gone to the court to question the ward reservation policy fixed by the state government for the coming corporation elections.

Former mayors like Ashraf, Hilda Alva, Abdul Aziz, former corporators like Ravoof, Harinath, Lancy Serrao and Farooq have all lodged a writ in this connection, in the court on Monday, August 13.

Their major contention is that owing to the rotation system, they have lost a chance to contest the election in their own constituency. 

The defendants alleged that in the last corporation elections out of the total 60 wards, as per the reservation positions already in force then, the ward number 1 to 20 were rotated and hence as per this position given by government the next in line for rotation were the ward numbers 21 to 40. 

However now by the new ward reservation policy the government has totally disregarded this aspect and made a new reservation policy, thus depriving the eligible corporators and mayors like themselves, from contesting the elections which they now justifiably feel is nothing but a breach of law, alleged the former corporators in their complaint before the court.

Earlier, Harish, an advocate in the city too had filed public interest litigation (PIL) in the high court, in this matter. However, the court had rejected this PIL stating that only the victims of injustice can file the said litigation.

In view of this, now the former corporators have themselves decided to file the writ.