SMC polls: HP HC direction to SEC, returning officer

The Himachal Pradesh High Court today directed state election officials to deal with claims and objections regarding exclusions or erroneous inclusions in the voters list for the Shimla Municipal Corporation polls.

Disposing a petition regarding discrepancies in the voters list, a division bench of Acting Chief Justice Sanjay Karol and Justice Sandeep Sharma said parties can file claims or objections prior to publication of final electoral rolls.

"Every eligible voter has a right for inclusion of his name in the electoral rolls and we are of the considered opinion that these facts require to be widely publicised...," the order said.

The court further directed the State Election Commission and the returning officer to keep the offices open on April 30 and May 1. It also directed them to open at least five centres and make adequate arrangements in facilitating the people in filing appropriate objections.

The court said that all the applications received in the offices and centres by the authorities shall be considered and decided by the competent authority, strictly in accordance with the law.

The final electoral rolls would be published on May 4 as the term of the present SMC expires on May 27 and the election process has to be completed before this date. PTL PCL ZMN

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