Boundary change only after '21 Census

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru:

The Government has informed the High Court that steps will be taken to conduct the 2021 Census, which has been delayed by the Covid pandemic. The undertaking by the Government came during the hearing of a petition seeking the formation of a new panchayat. The Government said that formation of new panchayats or other civic bodies can be carried out only after data from the 2021 Census, which is yet to be conducted, is obtained.

“The learned Additional Government Advocate submits that due to unforeseen circumstances, that is, the outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic, the State Government was not in a position to initiate the exercise of conducting census in the years 2021 and 2022. He further submits that as the priority was to deal with the pandemic, there has been delay in conducting the census.

He also submits that now the State Government will take steps for conducting the census on the receipt of the census report, further steps would be taken,” the HC recorded the submission of the Government. The HC said it would be recording this statement. “The submission of the learned Additional Government Advocate is accepted as an undertaking to this Court.

Needless to state that after the census report is received, the State Government will have to take further steps as per the relevant provisions of the Act,” it said. Shivananda Gopal Patil and 14 others had approached the HC with a public interest litigation seeking a direction to the government for the formation of an independent Vijayanagar gram panchayat inclusive of Sneha Nagar and Pogayatnatti villages in the Chikkodi taluk of Belagavi district.

They had made a joint representation in this regard to the Deputy Commissioner in 2014 seeking separation from the Jaganur gram panchayat. They made a second representation in 2021 but their “request has remained in cold storage.