THE TIMES OF INDIA NEWS SERVICE

PATNA: The State Election Commission (SEC) has sought directive from the secretary of the urban development department on reservation of the posts of chairpersons of the Patna, Muzaffarpur, Darbhanga, Gaya and Bhagalpur municipal corporations for scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and women in the coming local bodies elections.

The joint election commissioner, in a letter dated July 31 to the urban development department secretary, stated that the SEC is of the view that the elections for these five municipal corporations are to be held under the provisions of the Patna Municipal Corporation Act, 1951. But no provision for reservation of the post of municipal corporation chairperson for SCs, STs and women has been made in the Patna Municipal Corporation Act, 1951.

Since the reservation of the posts of chairpersons is mandatory according to the constitutional provisions, the Patna Municipal Corporation Act, 1951 becomes unconstitutional and hence it is impossible for the SEC to implement the mandatory provisions of the Constitution while holding elections for the posts of chairpersons of the five municipal corporations, the SEC official maintained.

The joint election commissioner asked the secretary to state the process through which reservation of the posts of chairpersons of the five municipal corporations can be made for SCs, STs and women according to the constitutional provisions in the coming elections.