JUDGMENT - SHAH A.P., J.:---Rule. Respondents waive service. By consent petitions are taken for final hearing.

2. These writ petitions under Article 226 can be conveniently disposed of by a common order since they all pertain to elections to the Ward Committees of Thane Municipal Corporation under section 29-A of the Bombay Provincial Municipal Corporations Act, 1949, hereinafter referred to as the 'Act'.

3. By the Constitution 74th Amendment Act of 1992, Parliament introduced Part 9-A to the Constitution with the object to promote and strengthen the concept of self Government at local level and decentralisation of power. Article 243-S provides for Constitution of Wards Committees in all municipalities having population of more than three lakhs. Pursuant to the mandate of Article 243-S, State legislature has introduced section 29-A in the Act by Maharashtra Act 41 of 1994. Section 29-A inter alia provides as follows :

"29-A; Constitution of Wards Committees;

1) In every city, there shall be constituted wards committees comprising of such continuous elected wards as may be decided by the Corporation, in accordance with the following table;

Population minimum additional maximum numbe

Click Here to Read the rest of this document