{"id":34728,"date":"2008-08-21T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2008-08-20T18:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.legalindia.com\/judgments\/whether-reporters-of-local-papers-vs-the-state-of-maharashtra-on-21-august-2008"},"modified":"2015-11-13T04:11:15","modified_gmt":"2015-11-12T22:41:15","slug":"whether-reporters-of-local-papers-vs-the-state-of-maharashtra-on-21-august-2008","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.legalindia.com\/judgments\/whether-reporters-of-local-papers-vs-the-state-of-maharashtra-on-21-august-2008","title":{"rendered":"Whether Reporters Of Local Papers … vs The State Of Maharashtra on 21 August, 2008"},"content":{"rendered":"
Bombay High Court<\/div>\n
Whether Reporters Of Local Papers … vs The State Of Maharashtra on 21 August, 2008<\/div>\n
Bench: F.I. Rebello, K.U. Chandiwal<\/div>\n
                               1\n\n\n\n\n              WRIT PETITION NO.3648 OF 2008\n\n\n\n\n                                                                 \n    Date of decision:   21st August, 2008.\n\n    For approval and signature.\n\n\n\n\n                                         \n    THE HONOURABLE SHRI JUSTICE F.I. REBELLO.\n\n    THE HONOURABLE SHRI JUSTICE K.U. CHANDIWAL.\n\n\n\n\n                                        \n    1.   Whether Reporters of Local Papers              }\n         may be allowed to see the judgment?            }\n\n    2.   To be referred to the Reporter or not?         }\n\n\n\n\n                                  \n    3.    Whether Their Lordships wish to see\n         the fair copy of the judgment?                 }\n\n    4.\n                    \n         Whether this case involves a substantial\n         question of law as to the interpretation\n                                                        }\n                                                        }\n         of the Constitution of India, 1950 or          }\n                   \n         any Order made thereunder?                     }\n\n    5.    Whether it is to be circulated to the         }\n         Civil Judges?                                  }\n\n    6.    Whether the case involves an important        }\n      \n\n\n         question of law and whether a copy of          }\n         the judgment should be sent to Mumbai,         }\n   \n\n\n\n         Nagpur and Panaji offices?                     }\n\n\n\n\n\n        [ S.U.Tupe ]\n    Personal Assistant to\n    the Honourable Judge.\n\n\n\n\n\n                                         ::: Downloaded on - 09\/06\/2013 13:42:53 :::\n                                  1\n\n\n\n\n        IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY\n\n                   BENCH AT AURANGABAD.\n\n\n\n\n                                                                    \n              WRIT PETITION NO.3648 OF 2008\n\n\n\n\n                                           \n    Shri.Narendra Sacchidanand Kulkarni,\n    Age: 38 years, R\/o. 5920, Gujjar Galli,\n    Ahmednagar.\n                                .... PETITIONER\n\n\n\n\n                                          \n                   VERSUS\n\n    1. The State of Maharashtra,\n       through Department of Urban\n       Development,Mantralaya,\n       Mumbai 32.\n\n\n\n\n                                    \n    2. The Ahmednagar Municipal Corporation,\n                   \n       through its Commissioner,\n       Ahmednagar, District Ahmednagar.\n\n    3. The Deputy Commissioner,\n                  \n       The Ahmednagar Municipal Corporation,\n       Ahmednagar, District Ahmednagar.\n\n    4. The State Election Commission,\n       Maharashtra State, Mumbai.\n                                .... RESPONDENTS\n      \n\n\n                           ...\n   \n\n\n\n    Shri.Mukul Kulkarni, Advocate for petitioner.\n    Shri.S.D.Kaldate, A.G.P. for respondent No.1.\n    Shri.V.P.Latange, Advocate for respondent Nos.2\n    and 3.\n    Shri.S.T.Shelke, Advocate for respondent No.4.\n\n\n\n\n\n                           ...\n\n                        CORAM:       F.I. REBELLO, AND\n                                     K.U.CHANDIWAL, JJ.\n<\/pre>\n
                        DATE :       21ST AUGUST, 2008.\n\n\n\n\n\n    ORAL JUDGMENT: ( PER : F.I. REBELLO, J.)\n\n\n    .     Rule.   Heard forth.\n\n\n\n\n                                            ::: Downloaded on - 09\/06\/2013 13:42:53 :::<\/span>\n                                                2<\/span>\n\n\n    2.        The        petitioner       is       a     Councillor         of     the\n\n    Ahmednagar           Municipal Corporation and was also the\n\n<\/pre>\n
    Chairman of the Standing Council of the Ahmednagar<\/p>\n
    Municipal            Corporation.                  According           to      the<\/p>\n
    petitioner,           the     petition has been filed for                      the<\/p>\n
    purpose        of        challenging       the        legality         and     the<\/p>\n
    validity            of      the      reservations            declared            by<\/p>\n
    respondent           No.3     for Scheduled Castes,                 Scheduled<\/p>\n
    Tribes,        Other        Backward Classes              including         seats<\/p>\n
    reserved        for        women.    The petitioner              has        stated<\/p>\n
    that     the basis for reserving the wards for                              S.C.,<\/p>\n
    S.T.\n<\/p>\n
              and O.B.C, is the respective population                                of<\/p>\n
    that      category           in     the        concerned       ward.           The<\/p>\n
    formation           of     wards for the Ahmednagar                 Municipal<\/p>\n
    Corporation           is under progress and as long as                         the<\/p>\n
    wards     are        not finalised, it is not                  possible          to<\/p>\n
    determine the population of any ward much less the<\/p>\n
    population           of     any     particular category                in     that<\/p>\n
    ward.      As        the     very         basis      of    reservation           is<\/p>\n
    population           of     the ward and as the population                       of<\/p>\n
    the     ward        is yet to be determined,                 the       reserved<\/p>\n
    wards cannot be determined.\n<\/p>\n
    .         The        petitioner, therefore, by the                      present<\/p>\n
    petition has sought relief, to quash and set aside<\/p>\n
    the reservations for S.C., S.T., O.B.C., and women<\/p>\n
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\n                                        3<\/span><\/p>\n
    as notified by respondent No.3 and issue necessary<\/p>\n
    orders     for the said purpose.             The further            relief<\/p>\n
    sought     for is by way of mandamus or directions to<\/p>\n
    direct     respondent      Nos.         2   and 3      who       are     the<\/p>\n
    Ahmednagar       Municipal Corporation and its Officers<\/p>\n
    to    determine the reservation of the wards of                          the<\/p>\n
    Ahmednagar       Municipal       Corporation        in      terms          of<\/p>\n
    Section     5A    of     the Bombay         Provincial        Municipal<\/p>\n
    Corporation       Act, 1949, after the formation of the<\/p>\n
    wards     and    issue     necessary orders for               the       said<\/p>\n
    purpose.\n<\/p>\n
    3.        The    basic    contention, therefore,                  of     the<\/p>\n
    petitioner        is     that    unless        wards       are         first<\/p>\n
    finalised, no reservation can be made wardwise, as<\/p>\n
    the population of S.C., S.T., and O.B.C., and like<\/p>\n
    figures in the wards would not be available.\n<\/p>\n
    4.        Respondent      No.4     is       the   State         Election<\/p>\n
    Commission, who have filed their affidavit through<\/p>\n
    its     Under Secretary.         It is set out therein                  that<\/p>\n
    Section     5A    of     the Bombay         Provincial        Municipal<\/p>\n
    Corporations       Act, 1949, hereafter referred to                        as<\/p>\n
    “Act”,      provides      that     the        total        number          of<\/p>\n
    reservations       for S.C., S.T., categories be                       based<\/p>\n
    on    the population of the said category                     vis-a-vis<\/p>\n
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\n                                             4<\/span><\/p>\n
    the      total         number     of        seats    and        the      total<\/p>\n
    population.            The seat for the concerned                   reserved<\/p>\n
    category        is to be calculated as per the following<\/p>\n
    formula:-<\/p>\n
\n\n\n\n\n                                                              \n    Number of       = Population of the Total number\n    Seats of reserved concerned         X of seats\n    Category          category\n<\/pre>\n
                    ———————————\n<\/p>\n
                             Total population<\/p>\n
    .         By        applying    such formula, the               seats        are<\/p>\n
    calculated          for      the S.C., and        S.T.,         categories.\n<\/p>\n
    27%<\/p>\n
    less
\n            seats<\/p>\n
                         for Backward Class of<\/p>\n
             than one third seats are to be earmarked for
\n                                                          Citizens.              Not<\/p>\n
    women        including women belonging to the categories<\/p>\n
    of S.C., S.T., and Backward Class of citizens.                                 It<\/p>\n
    is     set out that the Section 5 of the                        Corporation<\/p>\n
    Act     provides          for   constitution        of       corporation.\n<\/p>\n
    Sub-section            (2)      lays     down       the         number         of<\/p>\n
    Councillors          to be elected based on the population<\/p>\n
    of     the     city and sub section (3) deals                     with       the<\/p>\n
    wards into which the city shall be divided for the<\/p>\n
    purpose        of     wardwise         election     of       Councillors.\n<\/p>\n
    Considering          the provisions, it is contended                       that<\/p>\n
    reservation          is required to be published so as                         to<\/p>\n
    enable       the      public at large, to have                  information<\/p>\n
    regarding            reservation.           Section        10       of       the<\/p>\n
    Maharashtra          Municipal Councils, Nagar                  Panchayats<\/p>\n
                                                              ::: Downloaded on – 09\/06\/2013 13:42:53 :::<\/span>
\n                                             5<\/span><\/p>\n
    and     Industrial        Townships          Act,        1965       makes      it<\/p>\n
    mandatory       on       the     State Election           Commission           to<\/p>\n
    specify the reservation in the draft notification.\n<\/p>\n
    It    has      been the standard practice of                     the      State<\/p>\n
    Election       Commission         since its          establishment             in<\/p>\n
    1994,       to declare the reservation of the wards                            at<\/p>\n
    the     time    of       draft     notification,           in       order      to<\/p>\n
    appraise        the       citizens       of        the    city       of      the<\/p>\n
    provisional         reservation         so as to enable them                   to<\/p>\n
    submit      their        objections         and     suggestions.             The<\/p>\n
    State       Election Commission is therefore                        following<\/p>\n
    the      same       policy
\n                              ig     for     Municipal         Council           and<\/p>\n
    Corporation,          Zilla      Parishad,          Panchayat         Samiti,<\/p>\n
    Village         Panchayat              elections.               Also         the<\/p>\n
    Delimitation          Commission        constituted            to     delimit<\/p>\n
    Legislative         Assembly       and       Lok Sabha          seats       also<\/p>\n
    publishes       the       reservation at the time                   of    draft<\/p>\n
    notification.\n<\/p>\n
    5.        Ahmednagar Municipal Corporation came to be<\/p>\n
    established         in     2003.        In        the    first           general<\/p>\n
    election,       there were 21 wards and the wards                          were<\/p>\n
    multi-number          electing         3 to 4 members            from       each<\/p>\n
    ward.        Each     ward was having number of                     different<\/p>\n
    categories i.e, Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes<\/p>\n
    and Backward Class of Citizens and Women.                             The Act<\/p>\n
                                                              ::: Downloaded on – 09\/06\/2013 13:42:53 :::<\/span>
\n                                            6<\/span><\/p>\n
    was     amended        in December 2004 by Maharashtra                    Act<\/p>\n
    No.16        of 2004 to provide for single member                       wards<\/p>\n
    for Municipal Corporations instead of multi-member<\/p>\n
    wards.         Therefore, in the ensuing election, there<\/p>\n
    are     65     wards        and each ward is a         single        member<\/p>\n
    ward.         In     view     of the change in the           number         of<\/p>\n
    wards,        the     reservation cannot be            rotated.           The<\/p>\n
    petition        as     filed is misplaced and             consequently<\/p>\n
    ought to be dismissed.\n<\/p>\n
    6.       The State Election Commission on 20-02-2008<\/p>\n
    had     addressed<\/p>\n
                             a    letter        to   the     Commissioner,<\/p>\n
    Ahmednagar           Municipal Corporation intimating                   that<\/p>\n
    the     State        Election Commission is            approving          the<\/p>\n
    draft        ward     formation, submitted to them                 by     the<\/p>\n
    Municipal           Commissioner’s         letter   of      13-02-2008.\n<\/p>\n
    The relevant part of the letter reads as under :\n<\/p>\n
    .      ” The draw of lots should be conducted on<\/p>\n
    07-03-2008. At the time of drawing of lots, a map
\n    showing all the wards should be displayed.    Also
\n    the boundaries of each ward should be explained at
\n    the time of drawing of lots”.\n<\/p>\n
    7.       We may now consider the relevant provisions<\/p>\n
    of the Act.           Section 5(3) reads as under.\n<\/p>\n
             “5(3).          The State Election               Commissioner
\n             shall,         from time to time, by             notification<\/p>\n
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\n                               7<\/span><\/p>\n
           in the Official Gazette, specify for each
\n           City the number and boundaries of the wards
\n           into which such City shall be divided for
\n           the purpose of the      ward election    of
\n           councillors.    So   that,    as   for   as<\/p>\n
           practicable all wards shall be compact
\n           areas and the number of persons in each
\n           ward according to the latest census figures<\/p>\n
           shall approximately be the same. Each of
\n           the wards shall elect only one councillor.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
           Explanation.- For the purposes of this Act,
\n           the expression “latest     census figures”\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
           obtaining in sub-section (3), shall mean,-\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
           (a) the figures of      the latest census
\n           finally published and pending publication
\n           of final figures of the latest census shall
\n           mean the provisional figures published of<\/p>\n
           such census; and<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
           (b) where the relevant final or provisional
\n           figures of the latest      census are not
\n           available, the final relevant figures of
\n           the census immediately preceding the latest<\/p>\n
           census:\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
           Provided that, no notification issued under
\n           sub-section (3), whether before or after
\n           the   commencement of     the   Maharashtra
\n           Municipal Corporations, Municipal Councils,<\/p>\n
           Nagar Panchayats and Industrial Townships
\n           (Third Amendment) Act, 1995, shall have<\/p>\n
           effect except for the general election held
\n           next after the date      thereof and    for
\n           subsequent elections.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
           Provided also that, before any notification<\/p>\n
           is issued under sub-section (3), a draft
\n           thereof shall be published in the Official
\n           Gazette, and in such other manner as in the
\n           opinion of the State Election Commissioner
\n           is best calculated to bring the information
\n           to the notice of all persons likely to be
\n           affected thereby, together with a notice,<\/p>\n
           specifying the date on or before which any
\n           objections or suggestions will be received
\n           and the date after which the draft will be
\n           taken into consideration.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
    The   other relevant provision is Section 5A        which<\/p>\n
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\n                             8<\/span><\/p>\n
    reads as under.\n<\/p>\n
          “5A.   (1) (a) In the seats to be filled in
\n          by election in a Corporation, there shall<\/p>\n
          be seats reserved for persons belonging to
\n          the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes,
\n          Backward Class of citizens and women, as<\/p>\n
          may be determined by the State Election
\n          Commissioner, in the prescribed manner;\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
          (b) the seats to be reserved for the
\n          persons belonging to the Scheduled Castes<\/p>\n
          and the Scheduled Tribes in a Corporation
\n          shall bear, as nearly as may be, the same
\n          proportion in the total number of seats to
\n          be filled in by direct election in the
\n          Corporation  as the    population of the
\n          Scheduled Castes or, as the case may be,<\/p>\n
          the Scheduled Tribes in that Corporation
\n          area bears to the total population of that<\/p>\n
          area and such seats shall be allotted by
\n          rotation to different electoral wards in a
\n          Corporation:\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
          Provided that, one third of the total
\n          number of seats so    reserved shall be
\n          reserved   for women  belonging to   the
\n          Scheduled Castes or, as the case may be,
\n          the Scheduled Tribes:\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
          Provided further that, where only one seat
\n          is reserved for the Scheduled Castes or as<\/p>\n
          the case may be, the Scheduled Tribes then
\n          no seat shall be      reserved for   women
\n          belonging to the Scheduled Castes, or as
\n          the case may be, the Scheduled Tribes and
\n          where only two seats are reserved for the<\/p>\n
          Scheduled Castes, or as the case may be,
\n          the Scheduled Tribe, one of the two seats
\n          shall be reserved for women belonging to
\n          the Scheduled Castes, or as the case may
\n          be, the Scheduled Tribes;\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
          (c) the number of seats to be reserved for<\/p>\n
          persons   belonging to    the category of
\n          Backward Class of citizens shall be twenty
\n          seven percent of the total number of seats
\n          to   be   filled in by election      in   a
\n          Corporation   and such    seats shall    be
\n          allotted by rotation to different electoral
\n          wards in a Corporation:\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
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\n                                      9<\/span><\/p>\n
             Provided that, one third of the total
\n             number of seats so      reserved shall be
\n             reserved   for women    belonging to    the
\n             category of Backward Class of citizens;\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
             (d) one third (including the number of
\n             seats reserved for women belonging to the<\/p>\n
             Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and the
\n             category of Backward Class of citizens) of
\n             the total number of seats to be filled in
\n             by direct election in a Corporation shall
\n             be reserved for women and such seats shall<\/p>\n
             be   allotted by    rotation to different
\n             electoral wards in a Corporation.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
             (e) Notwithstanding anything contained in
\n             clauses (a) to (d), the State Election
\n             Commissioner   may, by an order,      issue<\/p>\n
             instructions for rotation of wards reserved
\n             for the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes,<\/p>\n
             Backward Class of citizens and women in
\n             Corporations where the number of wards have
\n             changed after the general elections for
\n             whatever reasons.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
             (2) The reservation of seats (other than
\n             the reservation for women) under clause (b)
\n             of sub-section (1), shall cease to have
\n             effect on the expiration of the period
\n             specified   in   article     334   of   the<\/p>\n
             Constitution of India.”\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
    .        Under     Section    14(2), the   State      Election<\/p>\n
    Commissioner       may     by order, delegate any       of     his<\/p>\n
    powers     and functions to any officer of the               State<\/p>\n
    Election       Commission    or any officer of the           State<\/p>\n
    Government       not below the rank of Deputy Collector<\/p>\n
    or   any    office of the Corporation not          below       the<\/p>\n
    rank of the Assistant Municipal Commissioner.\n<\/p>\n
    8.       The      State       Election     Commission            by<\/p>\n
    notification       dated     17-03-2008, has published           in<\/p>\n
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\n                                            10<\/span><\/p>\n
    the     Government Gazette, a draft order as required<\/p>\n
    by     Section        5 of the Act for information               of     all<\/p>\n
    residents           of Ahmednagar.      The draft       notification<\/p>\n
    sets     out the number of councillors to be                     elected<\/p>\n
    and the number of reserved seats and further wards<\/p>\n
    in respect of which seats are to be reserved.\n<\/p>\n
    .        Note         to    the      notification     contains          the<\/p>\n
    following.<\/p>\n
\n\n\n\n\n                                               \n    (1).     The         reservation indicated in the              schedule\n\n    for     the        Backward\n                                ig    Class of   Citizens      and        women\n\n    including           seats     reserved for women belonging                to\n                              \n    the     Scheduled           Castes, the Scheduled Tribes,               and\n\n    Backward           Class    of    Citizens is as per         the       lots\n\n    drawn on 07-03-2008.\n      \n   \n\n\n\n    (2).     While         finalizing      the wards, if limits               of\n\n    any     ward        are changed and due to which change                   in\n\n\n\n\n\n    reservation            becomes      necessary       then     draw       for\n\n    reservation will be done again.\n\n\n\n    (3).     A         map of the Municipal Corporation showing\n\n\n\n\n\n    limits        of     the     ward is available       during        office\n\n    hours         for     inspection       in    the    office       of     the\n\n    Municipal Corporation.\n\n\n\n\n                                                         ::: Downloaded on - 09\/06\/2013 13:42:53 :::<\/span>\n                                             11<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n    .        It      is,        therefore, clear that in terms                   of\n\n    this     notification,             it is provisional and at                the\n\n\n\n\n                                                                                     \n    time     of     finalizing the wards after                 hearing         the\n\n\n\n\n                                                            \n<\/pre>\n
    objections, if limits of any wards are changed and<\/p>\n
    due      to     which        change      in    reservation             became<\/p>\n
    necessary,           then draw for reservation will be done<\/p>\n
    again.     The Election Commission has also published<\/p>\n
    the     notification          setting        out the     schedule          for<\/p>\n
    consideration of the objections.\n<\/p>\n
    9.       We<\/p>\n
                     now consider the true import of Section<\/p>\n
    5A of the Act.              Section 5A(1)(a) mandates that the<\/p>\n
    Election        Commission         shall reserve seats for                 the<\/p>\n
    categories           set out therein.         Sub-clause (b)             sets<\/p>\n
    out     that     reservation is to be done as nearly                         as<\/p>\n
    may     be in the same proportion to the seats to                            be<\/p>\n
    filled in by direct election in the Corporation as<\/p>\n
    the     population of the Scheduled Castes or, as the<\/p>\n
    case      may        be,     the      Scheduled      Tribes       in       that<\/p>\n
    Corporation area, bears to the total population of<\/p>\n
    that     area        and     such seats shall be             allotted        by<\/p>\n
    rotation        to     different       electoral         wards        in      a<\/p>\n
    Corporation.           It is thus clear that reservation is<\/p>\n
    based     upon        the     population        of     the     respective<\/p>\n
    category        of     voters in that particular                ward       and<\/p>\n
                                                            ::: Downloaded on – 09\/06\/2013 13:42:53 :::<\/span>
\n                                               12<\/span><\/p>\n
    which     thereafter are to be rotated.                           Sub-section<\/p>\n
    (3)     of Section 5 sets out that the State Election<\/p>\n
    Commissioner              must         specify        the       number           and<\/p>\n
    boundaries       of the wards into which the City shall<\/p>\n
    be divided for the purpose of the ward election of<\/p>\n
    councillors.               The        exercise,          therefore,              for<\/p>\n
    formation       of        the     ward and        also       provision           for<\/p>\n
    reservation is the power conferred on the Election<\/p>\n
    Commission.<\/p>\n
\n\n\n\n\n                                               \n    .        Does the Section contemplate that the wards\n\n    have     to    be\n                              \n                          first formed and notified                      and        only\n\n    thereafter       reservation             has     to      be       done.          The\n                             \n    reservation          of     seats is based on the                  population\n\n    which     is    normally              based on the          electoral         roll\n\n    prepared by the Election Commission of India.                                   The\n      \n\n\n    wards     though geographical have also been notified\n   \n\n\n\n    by     the State Election.               The Section also provides\n\n    for     the number of councillors in each council and\n\n\n\n\n\n    depending       upon the population, additional                            number\n\n    of     councillors.              In     other      wards,         as     far      as\n\n    possible       the        area        of the ward will have                to     be\n\n    based     on    the number of councillors,                        unless        the\n\n\n\n\n\n    Election       Commission             provides for more              than       one\n\n    councillor       from        one ward based on the number                         of\n\n    seats     to    be provisionally in that ward.                           In     the\n\n\n\n\n                                                                 ::: Downloaded on - 09\/06\/2013 13:42:53 :::<\/span>\n                                              13<\/span>\n\n\n    instant        case,        we     are not confronted          with        that\n\n    situation        as        provisionally        the     City     has       been\n\n    divided        into        65 wards as per draft            notification\n\n\n\n\n                                                                                      \n<\/pre>\n
    and also the reserved seats are set out.\n<\/p>\n
    10.       In     our        opinion,        on a    plain      reading        of<\/p>\n
    Section        5 and 5(3) of the Act, we have absolutely<\/p>\n
    no     doubt     in our mind that both the formation                          of<\/p>\n
    wards     and reservation can be done                   simultaneously<\/p>\n
    and     the     Act does not prohibit such an                    exercise.\n<\/p>\n
    The provisional formation of wards and reservation<\/p>\n
    is     again<\/p>\n
                     subject to the objections that                      may      be<\/p>\n
    made     before the wards are finally notified.                             The<\/p>\n
    submission,           therefore,        made       on   behalf       of     the<\/p>\n
    petitioner that reservation can only be subsequent<\/p>\n
    to     the formation of the wards, in our opinion, is<\/p>\n
    misplaced.            The        population of the area would                 be<\/p>\n
    known     based        on        the   census      figures      and       other<\/p>\n
    material including the electoral roll.                         Similarly,<\/p>\n
    the     population          of the reserved categories                  would<\/p>\n
    also     be available.             What the Election           Commission<\/p>\n
    therefore        does        is to notify the draft wards                   and<\/p>\n
    draft reservation based on the material which will<\/p>\n
    only     be     finalized           after     objections       filed        are<\/p>\n
    considered.            The exercise of power and                 formation<\/p>\n
    of     opinion        in     the matter of          forming      wards        or<\/p>\n
                                                             ::: Downloaded on – 09\/06\/2013 13:42:53 :::<\/span>
\n                                     14<\/span><\/p>\n
    provisions     for     reservation   is   based       on       the<\/p>\n
    material available to the Election Commission.\n<\/p>\n
    11.      For the aforesaid reasons, we find no merit<\/p>\n
    in     this   petition, which    accordingly      dismissed.\n<\/p>\n
    Rule     discharged.      There shall be no order as             to<\/p>\n
    costs.\n<\/p>\n
    [ K.U. CHANDIWAL, J.]                [ F.I. REBELLO, J.]<\/p>\n
    sut\/u\/AUG08\/wp3648.08<\/p>\n
                                                ::: Downloaded on – 09\/06\/2013 13:42:53 :::<\/span>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Bombay High Court Whether Reporters Of Local Papers … vs The State Of Maharashtra on 21 August, 2008 Bench: F.I. Rebello, K.U. Chandiwal 1 WRIT PETITION NO.3648 OF 2008 Date of decision: 21st August, 2008. For approval and signature. THE HONOURABLE SHRI JUSTICE F.I. REBELLO. THE HONOURABLE SHRI JUSTICE K.U. CHANDIWAL. 1. Whether Reporters of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[11,8],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-34728","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-bombay-high-court","category-high-court"],"yoast_head":"\nWhether Reporters Of Local Papers ... vs The State Of Maharashtra on 21 August, 2008 - Free Judgements of Supreme Court & High Court | Legal India<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalindia.com\/judgments\/whether-reporters-of-local-papers-vs-the-state-of-maharashtra-on-21-august-2008\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Whether Reporters Of Local Papers ... vs The State Of Maharashtra on 21 August, 2008 - 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