Daijiworld Media Network – Bangalore (SP)

Bangalore, Apr 7: In a move that can have far-reaching repercussions, the state High Court, on Wednesday April 6, cancelled the circular issued by the government, ordering conversion of Tumkur municipality into a city corporation.

Citing norms, the High Court said that the government has no right to convert cities having less than three lac population into city corporations. At the same time, Justice B V Nagaratna said that the government can come out with a fresh circular based on the latest census figures on population.

At the time the government ordered elevation of Tumur municipal council into city corporation, the population there, as per records, stood at 2.48 lac. As per the provisions of Karnataka Municipalities Act, a city, to be eligible for being treated as a city corporation, should necessarily have a population of over three lac.

The High Court cited failure to fulfil population criteria as the lone reason for cancellation of the government circular issued in August 2010, upgrading Tumukur as the ninth city corporation in the state.