High Court seeks reply on petition challenging voting rights

The Allahabad High Court has asked the Uttar Pradesh government to file a counter-affidavit on a petition challenging an amendment in state's urban local self-government laws giving nominated members right to vote in meetings of municipalities.

The order to file the counter-affidavit was passed by a Division Bench comprising Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justice Dilip Gupta. The petition was filed by Neera Chandra, hailing from Meerut, who had contended that the provision was in violation of Article 243R of the Constitution which "specifically provides that nominated members shall not have a right to vote in meetings of the Municipality".

Issuing notice to the state's Advocate General, the court fixed July 31 as the next date of hearing even as it directed that nominated members of the Nagar Palika Parishad, Mawana, Meerut, "may participate in the meetings but they shall have no right to vote".