Muslim League moves Supreme Court against ward delimitation; Kerala Govt files caveat

New Delhi: The Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) has moved the Supreme Court, challenging the Kerala High Court's verdict that upheld the power of the government to delimit wards in local self-government institutions based on the 2011 Census data. The petition was filed by six IUML leaders from various municipalities in Kozhikode district. The plea sought an urgent stay on the division bench's order.

The petition argued that the 2011 Census data was outdated, especially with the new Census set to take place this year. Delimiting wards based on old data was improper, the petition claimed. The plea was filed through counsel and IUML Rajya Sabha MP Haris Beeran. Meanwhile, the state government has submitted a caveat in the apex court, requesting that its arguments be heard before any interim order is passed.

Earlier, a single bench of the Kerala High Court had ruled that the ward delimitation in municipalities such as Mattannur, Panoor and Sreekandapuram in Kannur; Mukkam, Koduvally, Payyoli and Feroke in Kozhikode; Pattambi in Palakkad; and Padanna panchayat in Kasaragod was illegal. However, the division bench later upheld the ward delimitation by the state government, prompting the IUML to file the appeal.