VINOD KRISHNAN Vs. STATE OF KERALA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This writ petition is filed by the residents of different wards of the Cherpulassery Municipality, the 2nd respondent herein. The grievance raised by the petitioners is that, despite Ext.P4 notification issued by the Government, constituting a Delimitation Commission, the 3rd respondent herein, for the purpose of carrying out the exercise of delimitation in all the Local Self Government Institutions in the State by dividing the wards and fixing the boundaries thereof, the 3rd respondent Commission had taken a decision not to carry out such exercise for the 2nd respondent-Municipality.

(2.) The facts in brief are as follows:

(3.) As per Ext.P5, the Government notified the constitution of a Delimitation Commission on 14/6/2024 for carrying out the delimitation exercise in all the Local Self Government Institutions in the State, for the elections to be conducted in the year 2025. Thereafter, Ext.P3 notification was published on 9/7/2024, amending Sec. 6(3) of the Kerala Municipality Act by increasing the minimum and maximum number of wards in the Municipalities, as 26 and 53 respectively, from 25 and 52 respectively. Later, Ext.P4 notification was issued on 10/9/2024, refixing the number of wards in all the Municipal Councils and Municipal Corporations. As per the said notification, the number of wards fixed for the 2nd respondent Municipality was determined as 33, which was equal to the number of wards notified in the year, 2015.