Residents of three Layouts in city get right to vote in MCC polls

Though Preethi, Sai and DGM Layouts were handed over by MUDA to MCC in 2016, the residents were not included in the voter list and were not getting any facility from the MCC, following which a writ petition was filed in the High Court

Mysuru: After a long legal battle, the residents of Preethi, Sai and DGM Layouts, coming under Ward 65, have earned the right to vote in the Aug.31 MCC Polls.

Announcing this at a press meet here on Saturday, J. Jayanth, a resident of Preethi Layout and a member of the Food Corporation of India (FCI), said that he and other residents had filed a writ petitions in the High Court after coming to know that the residents of Preethi, Sai and DGM Layouts did not figure in the notification for  Corporation polls.

Though the three Layouts were handed over by MUDA to the City Corporation (MCC) in 2016, the residents were not included in the voter list and were not getting any facility from the MCC, following which a writ petition was filed in the High Court, he said.

During the hearing of the petition, State Advocate General (AG) Uday Holla, appearing for the State Government, said that no voter within the limits of MCC will be deprived of their franchise and also assured the Court that he will instruct the Deputy Commissioner to take all necessary steps to include the names of the petitioners and all other eligible residents of the three Layouts in the electoral rolls.

The Court, taking note of the AG’s assurance, passed a direction in this regard, following which the name of the residents of the three Layouts were included in the voters list, Jayanth said, adding that there are more than 400 voters in the three Layouts.

Continuing, Jayanth said that though MUDA handed over the Layouts to the MCC in 2016, till date, the Layouts have been deprived of the much needed facilities. He warned that the residents will stop paying taxes to the MCC and MUDA if they fail to provide basic facilities and civic amenities.

Noting that there was no point in paying taxes to them if they failed to address civic issues in the three localities, Jayanth, apart from issuing a warning on non-payment of taxes, also hinted at looking at all options available to them, after the MCC Polls.