(1.) The petitioner, who is the Councillor representing Division No.4 of Kollam Corporation and an SLR worker in the Water Resources Department, has filed this writ petition challenging Ext.P-2 communication issued to him by the Secretary of the Kerala State Election Commission and seeking a declaration that he is entitled to contest in the ensuing elections to the Kollam Corporation.
(2.) By Ext.P-2 letter dated 31/8/2010 the Secretary of the Kerala State Election Commission informed the petitioner that the Ground Water Department is a Department of the Government and therefore the petitioner, who is an employee of the said Department, is disqualified from being a member or for being chosen as the Councillor of a Municipality in view of section 86(1) of the Kerala Municipality Act, 1994.
(3.) Section 86 (1) of the Kerala Municipality Act, 1994 reads as follows: