Court rejects PIL against municipal polls

Kathmandu Dec 12-The Supreme Court rejected a public interest litigation (PIL) demanding an order to the government to stop the procedures for upcoming municipal polls.

A single bench of Chief Justice Dilip Kumar Poudel quashed the writ petition filed by a group of advocates including Rajan Banjara and Hari Bahadur Mainali on Sunday. The petitioners in their PIL had argued that constitutional provisions do not allow the government to conduct local polls prior to the general elections.

Elections in 58 municipalities around the country are slated for February 8 next year whereas the parliamentary polls are planned for mid-2007.

Major political parties have already announced to boycott the upcoming polls while the government and the Election Commission (EC) have claimed that to hold the municipal polls on the schedule. The EC has given permission to 57 political parties to contest in the upcoming municipal polls.

Mainwhile,Despite the calls from major opposition political parties to boycott municipal polls slated for February 8 next year, the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Keshav Raj Rajbhandari has said that the Election Commission (EC) has the responsibility of completing the election successfully.

Speaking at a workshop on municipal polls for the election officers and assistant election officers of the Mid-Western Development Region on Monday, the CEC said the election, that has received international importance, should be successfully completed so as to consolidate the derailed democracy and to enhance the good image of the constitutional monarchy and multiparty democracy in the international level.

The EC appointed CDOs of the districts, which have municipalities, as Election Officers for the municipal elections.

Despite the call of seven political parties to boycott the municipal polls and not registering at the EC for municipal election purpose, Rajbhandari expressed the hope that all political parties would take part in the municipal election to play their role in development of the municipalities.
CEC Commissioner also informed that parliamentary election would be held immediately after the completion of the municipal polls.

He also said the EC would welcome international agencies if they wish to observe polls as it carries a historical importance, since His Majesty the King has directed to hold the election for the first time.