States » EastPosted at: Oct 29 2026 6:26PM


Calcutta HC refuses interim stay on KMC ward delimitation, civic polls face no immediate hurdle

Kolkata, Oct 29 (UNI) The Calcutta High Court on Thursday declined to grant any interim relief in a case challenging the delimitation of wards in the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC), leaving the proposed civic polls free of any immediate legal hurdle.
Justice Hiranmay Bhattacharyya rejected the plea for interim intervention but did not dismiss the case, directing the state government and the petitioners to file affidavits before the matter is heard again.
The court directed the state to file its affidavit on the maintainability of the case within three weeks, while the petitioners will have to submit their response within four weeks.
The matter will be heard again after six weeks.
During the hearing, Justice Bhattacharyya questioned why the petitioners had approached the court at such a late stage, after the delimitation process had been underway for a considerable period.
He also sought to know whether there were specific rules governing the manner in which the KMC commissioner had forwarded the ward delimitation proposal.
Appearing for the petitioners, advocate Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya said they had moved the court after the decision was made public.
He alleged that the entire process was irrational and argued that the municipal administrator had no legal authority to initiate steps relating to delimitation.
With the court declining to impose an interim stay, the election administration can continue preparations for the civic polls according to the proposed schedule, although the legal challenge remains pending.
Preparations for the elections are already underway.
The 209 wards of the KMC are expected to have a total of 4,711 polling booths, requiring approximately 22,600 polling personnel.
The State Election Commission is scheduled to begin training polling personnel on November 3.
According to sources, the electronic voting machines (EVMs) to be used in the civic polls will not have a ‘None of the Above’ (NOTA) option.
UNI SAG RSA
Tags: #Calcutta HC refuses interim stay on KMC ward delimitation# civic polls face no immediate hurdle
More News

Odisha: Railways set up help desk at Berhampur

29 Oct 2026 | 7:36 PM

Berhampur, Oct 29 (UNI) The East Coast Railway’s Khurda Road Division has set up a Passenger Assistance Help Desk at Brahmapur station to assist passengers affected by train disruptions caused by severe waterlogging and rising water levels between Ichapuram and Sompeta stations in Odisha.

see more..

Mizoram films to be showcased at Kerala nature festival

29 Oct 2026 | 7:33 PM

Aizawl, Oct 29 (UNI) Four films from Mizoram will be screened at the 8th Rain International Nature Film Festival in Kochi, Kerala, where the state has been selected as the Focus State, offering Mizo filmmakers a platform to showcase their work and promote the state’s natural beauty and cultural heritage.

see more..

Ranchi hospitals, clinics told to display rates, doctors' details

29 Oct 2026 | 7:25 PM

Ranchi, Oct 29 (UNI) The Ranchi district health administration has directed all nursing homes, hospitals, clinics and other applicable clinical establishments to prominently display their registration certificates, service rate charts and details of doctors, giving them seven days to comply.

see more..

Jharkhand High Court orders Rs 8 lakh compensation in train death case

29 Oct 2026 | 7:04 PM

Ranchi, Oct 29 (UNI) The Jharkhand High Court has ordered the Railways to pay Rs 8 lakh in compensation to the family of a man who died after falling from a train, ruling that the absence of a railway ticket on the deceased's body was not, by itself, sufficient ground to reject the claim.

see more..

Jharkhand: Wild elephant found dead in Latehar forest, probe underway

29 Oct 2026 | 7:01 PM

Latehar, Oct 29 (UNI) A wild elephant was found dead in Bishunpur forest under Balumath police station area of Latehar district, with forest officials suspecting that the animal may have died following a fight with other elephants.

see more..