On Thursday, December 9, the Bombay High Court refused to put in an immediate interim stay on the state government ordinance that stated the rise of nine seats in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), stated reports.
A division bench asked the Maharashtra government, BMC, and the State Election Commission to file affidavits in response by December 21. This is in regards to a plea by two BJP councillors countering the November 30 resolution.
On November 30, the state urban development department proclaimed a notification rising the number of seats to 236 from 227. This happened after the proposal was sanctioned by Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari.
On November 10, the Maharashtra cabinet approved the decision and had sent the file to the governor for his sanction on November 16. On November 29, it was approved by the governor.
After this, the State Election Commission (SEC) will be required to ask the civic authority to redraw the ward boundaries and give the draft. The counsel representing the BJP councillors, apart from asking the court to quash and put aside the ordinance, also sought a stay on its implementation pending hearing.
Apart from refusing to grant an immediate interim stay, they also issued notice to explain the state’s stance on the next hearing on December 22.
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