Big Relief for Yogi govt as SC stays HC order directing UP civic polls minus OBC quota

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has welcomed the decision of the Supreme Court on civic elections in the state and said that his government will cooperate in conducting the elections by implementing OBC reservation within the stipulated time.

The Supreme Court on Wednesday stayed the Allahabad High Court order directing the Uttar Pradesh government to conduct urban local body elections without reservation for Other Backward Classes (OBCs).

In a tweet, the Chief Minister said, “We welcome the order given by the Honorable Supreme Court regarding the urban body elections in Uttar Pradesh. While implementing OBC reservation within the time limit given by the Honorable Supreme Court, the Uttar Pradesh government will cooperate in conducting the body elections."

Earlier, Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud and Justice P.S. Narasimha's bench took cognizance of the arguments of Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the state government. The bench directed that a commission appointed by the state government would have to decide the issues related to OBC reservation for elections to local bodies by March 31, 2023.

The apex court allowed the state government to appoint administrators to run the local body affairs after the expiry of the tenure of the elected representatives. However, said that the administrators will not have the powers to take important policy decisions.

The court had earlier agreed to hear an appeal by the Uttar Pradesh government challenging the High Court order quashing its draft notification on urban local body elections and directing it to hold elections without reservation for other backward classes.

Setting aside the December 5 draft notification, the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court had ordered that the state government notify the elections "immediately" as the term of several municipalities would expire by January 31.

The court had directed the State Election Commission to conduct the elections by January 31 after transferring the OBC seats to the general category in the draft notification.

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