Bijepur bypoll: Delhi HC directs ECI to file response in seven days

New Delhi/Bhubaneswar: A couple of days after a writ petition was filed in Delhi High Court against Election Commission of India (ECI) to issue notification for the by-election in Bijepur Assembly Constituency of Odisha, the court today ordered the commission to submit a reply within seven days.

Kanak Foundation & ANR had filed a writ petition (WP(C) 599/2018) on January 20.

While hearing the petition today, the Court said that the ECI must submit its response within the next seven days.

"It is a statutory obligation that the Election Commission should conduct election within six months of a seat falling vacant. That's why we approached the High Court urging it to direct the ECI to notify the Bijepur bypoll date," said lawyer of the petitioner, Sudarsh Menon.

The Bijepur by-election was necessitated following the death of three-time Congress MLA Subal Sahu on August 22.