The Karnataka government has taken away our power, the Election Commission has told the High Court

The Karnataka State Election Commission on Tuesday told the Karnataka High Court that the state government had taken away its power by failing to hold elections in district panchayats and taluk panchayats as directed by the Supreme Court.

A vacation division bench of the High Court comprising Justice SG Pandit and Justice MG Umar heard the petition of the Election Commission today.

Following the Supreme Court’s order last week to immediately select the ZP-TP, the commission submitted a memo to the High Court for the hearing of the pending petition, citing the state of emergency.

The High Court asked the commission’s counsel why the memo was presented to him without following the Supreme Court’s order.

Lawyers have submitted to the court that the state government has revoked the power of the Election Commission to make delimitation and reservation lists of constituencies. Without these, the state EC could not announce the election schedule.

The state formed a separate panel for demarcation and preservation, although the EC itself carried out the exercise. Which the EC challenged in the High Court.

The court observed that a detailed examination of the petition was required and adjourned the hearing till May 23.