Civic polls not likely for some more months

CHENNAI: The delimitation commission constituted for determining the boundaries of local bodies in Tamil Nadu on Tuesday clarified that over 50 per cent of the objections raised against the proposals for delimitation of wards are still under examination and once the final draft proposals are ready, they will be sent to the government for notification. This has indicated that the local body elections cannot be expected at least for some more months.

Stating that the reports appeared in a section of the media were contrary to the truth, State Election Commissioner M Malik Feroz Khan, who is also the Chairman of the Delimitation Commission, in a statement here, said “After the receipt of final draft proposals from the heads of department, they will be sent to the government. After the final publication of wards for both rural and urban local bodies as per Act and rules as stipulated, the reservation of wards for SC/ST and women will be determined and published by the government.”

Updating on the status of the petitions/objections received for delimitation of the wards, the chairman of the commission said, “Out of 8,009 petitions/objections received from public and political parties from rural local bodies, 3,642 petitions have been accepted and 4,367 petitions are under examination. Out of 10,952 claims and objections received from the public and political parties from urban local bodies (except Chennai Corporation) 3,933 were accepted and 8,019 are under examination currently.”

With regard to the Chennai Corporation, out of 586 claims and objections received, 190 representations were fully accepted and 20 representations partially accepted and 376 petitions under examination.   
Keeping in mind the cases pending before the Madras High Court and Supreme Court, the delimitation commission had held regional-level meetings with officials, political parties, public representatives and general public involved in this process in Kancheepuram, Vellore, Tiruchy, Coimbatore, Salem, Tuticorin and Madurai in January 2018 and February 2018 to complete the delimitation activities expeditiously, the chairman added. 

Based on the claims and objections received from the public/political parties, wherever any changes are required, the field-level officials have been instructed to revisit the areas, and to make such modifications required and to send revised proposal to his commission. In some of the wards if excess or shortfall has been noticed beyond the average population as stipulated in the Act, the district delimitation authorities would revisit such cases through the heads of departments concerned such as Director of Town Panchayat, Commissioner of Municipal Administration, Director of Rural Development and Commissioner of Chennai Corporation.