Pondy directed to inform date of Civic Polls

CHENNAI: The Madras High Court has directed the Puducherry government to inform it as to when the election to the local bodies will be conducted. The First Bench comprising Chief Justice MY Eqbal and Justice TS Sivagnanam gave the direction while admitting a writ petition from V Perumal, secretary of Puducherry unit of the CPM, on Friday. The matter will be taken up after two weeks.
According to petitioner, after 1968, no election to the local bodies was held. He moved the Madras High Court, which in December 2005 directed the Puducherry State Election Commissioner to conduct the election to the five municipalities and 10 commune panchayats and 98 village panchayats within four months. Accordingly, the election was held in 2006. However, the tenure of the elected representatives expired in June this year. The Election Commissioner also retired fromservice. No efforts were taken by the government to appoint an election commissioner and to hold the election, petitioner contended.