The notification issued by the Election Commission for Katol Assembly by-elections on February 25 was challenged in the Nagpur Bench of Bombay High Court. Chairperson of Katol Panchayat Samiti Sandip Sarode had filed a writ petition in the HC challenging the notification. On Thursday, he had filed a plea in the court seeking permission to challenge the notification after which the Election Commission has sought time to prepare reply.
The hearing was then scheduled for April 9. The final hearing on the main plea filed by Sarode in connection with the Katol bypolls is underway. The court was to pronounce its verdict on Thursday. After Sarode moved another plea, the verdict could not be pronounced. Justice Sunil Shukre and Justice Pushpa Ganediwala heard the case.
The petitioner said main objective of opposing the notification was the reason cited by the Election Commission for delaying bypolls to Katol Assembly constitution. The Centre had given nod to EC decision to conduct bypolls in 26 Assembly constituencies with Lok Sabha polls simultaneously as conducting separate bypolls was not possible. Conducting bypolls within six months of the vacancy is must and the Election Commission could not overlook the act.
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