Plea challenges state’s ordinance issued on November 30, amending the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act to increase number of municipal wards in the city from 227 to 236 The Bombay High Court on Thursday issued notice to the Maharashtra government seeking its reply on a writ petition challenging a recent ordinance approved by the state cabinet to increase the ward strength of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) ahead of the civic polls scheduled early next year.

A bench of Justice Amjad Sayed and Justice Abhay Ahuja directed the state government to file a short affidavit in response to the plea by December 21. The bench also issued a notice to the Election Commission of India, which is a respondent party besides the state government in the plea filed by BJP corporator Abhijit Samant and one Rajeshree Shirwadkar.