GHMC elections extended by a month; HC suspends GO

The High Court of Judicature at Hyderabad on Thursday ordered conduct of GHMC elections as per old process while suspending the GO issued by the Telangana Government which had reduced the duration of poll process to 15 days.

The High Court extended the conduct of polling by 31 days, which means 31 days time would be given for polling from the date of notification. The two-member division bench, comprising of Acting Chief Justice Dilip Bhosale and Justice S.V. Bhatt, also asked the State Government to notify reservation of wards for the Scheduled Castes & Tribes, Backward



Classes and Women in the GHMC latest by Saturday.

After the clearance of ward reservation, the State Election Commission would issue the notification to go ahead with the election process without reference to the G.O. issued by the State Government.

Meanwhile, the Advocate General assured the court that the State Government would finalise reservations for wards by January 9. Therefore, polling is likely to be held on February 9.

The High Court directions came based on a PIL filed by Congress former MLA Marri Shashidhar Reddy challenging the GO.