HC Dismisses 2 Pleas Against Maha Govt’s Reversal Of BMC Ward Delimitation

The Bombay High Court today dismissed petitions filed by two former councilors challenging the Eknath Shinde-led Maharashtra government’s ordinance.

A division bench of Justices SB Shukre & MW Chandwani stated that it found no substance in the petitions and hence, they stand dismissed.

In November 2021, the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government led by Uddhav Thackeray decided to increase the number of wards from 227 – 236. Where the Shinde-led Shiv Sena-BJP government in August issued an ordinance bringing the number back to 227.

Former BMC councilors Raju Pednekar and Sameer Desai in their petitions challenged the Shinde government’s decision and claimed that it sought to put the clock back.

Therefore, the petitioners claimed that the reversal of the delimitation from 236 to 227 was arbitrary and could lead to a delay in the civic elections. The state government opposed the petitions alleging that they were filed with “ulterior motives” and ought to be dismissed with exemplary cost.

Further, the government stated that it felt the number of wards need not be increased, as the population rise was minuscule.