The EC’s apology came during the hearing of a public interest litigation (PIL) challenging the on-the-spot requisition of private vehicles for election work without prior intimation and low remuneration for the vehicles.
A division bench of HC comprising Chief Justice Bhaskar Bhattacharya and Justice J B Pardiwala has reserved its verdict on the PIL.
Petitioner Ashok Munishwar Giri had argued that the vehicles were being requisitioned and confiscated by authorities for election purposes in an unjust manner as people were being asked to vacate their vehicles on the spot.
Giri also contended that the remuneration offered for the same was quite low compared to the amount being spent on them by the owners.
Petitioner’s lawyer Harshil Dholakia said that on Tuesday, EC’s lawyer tendered apology for the on-the-spot requisition of vehicles by authorities in spite of there being a direction from it to all concerned to intimate the vehicle owners in advance.