SHIV KUMAR SOOD Vs. UNION OF INDIA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This order will dispose of CWP Nos.20406, 20547, 21033, 21143, 21496, 21663, 18317 of 2020, 137 and 139 of 2021 as common questions of law and facts are involved in all the connected writ petitions. For the sake of brevity and convenience, a glance of facts are being taken from CWP No. 20406 of 2020.

(2.) The petitioners have approached this Court through these writ petitions for quashing the notification dated 22.10.2020 (Annexure P-8) concerning the delimitation of wards alongwith map issued by the official respondents which is said to be in violation of the provisions of the Punjab Municipal Corporation Act, 1976 (for short 'Act of 1976'), the Delimitation of Wards of Municipal Corporation Order (for short "Order of 1995"), the Delimitation Act, 1972 (for short 'Act of 1972'), Census Act, 1948 (for short 'Act of 1948'), Census Rules, 1990 (for short 'Rules of 1990') and Chapter IX (A) of the Constitution of India and that too without deciding the objections dated 16.09.2020 (Annexure P-7) submitted by the petitioners with regard to delimitation of the wards, reservation, population, contiguity etc. of the Municipal Corporation, Hoshiarpur.

(3.) Learned counsel for the petitioners have, inter alia, made the following submissions:-