MUMBAI: SC Monday rejected a petition challenging the validity of the delimitation exercise for zilla parishads, panchayat samitis and other local bodies in Maharashtra and orally observed it would not allow litigation aimed at stalling the electoral process.“We’re not going to entertain any plea that could delay polls,” said a bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi Monday. The bench orally remarked the pleas seemed to be a ploy to delay local body polls. SC had earlier set a deadline of Jan 31 for such polls to conclude and said there could be no further impediment in the conduct of elections.The challenge was following a Bombay HC order which had found no illegality in the decisions taken by divisional commissioners over delimitation for Kolhapur, Satara and Sangli, the core dispute in the plea. While dismissing the plea, SC kept the question of law regarding delegation of powers open to be examined in an appropriate case.
