1 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY BENCH AT AURANGABAD WRIT PETITION NO. 2216 OF 2010 Prashant Subhash Desarda ..... PETITIONER VERSUS The Union of India & Oths. .... RESPONDENTS Mr. D.P.Palodkar, Advocate for petitioner. Mr. S.K.Tambe, Assistant Govt. Pleader for State. Mr. S.T.Shelke, Advocate for respondent no. 2. Mr. R.S.Deshmukh, Advocate for respondent no. 3. ........................... CORAM : P.V.HARDAS & S.V.GANGAPURWALA, JJ. DATE : 23/03/2010 PER COURT : 1. This is a petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, by which the petitioner prays for issuance of writ directing respondent nos. 2 and 3 to forthwith prepare voters electoral rolls containing photographs of the voters as available on the voters list of the Legislative Assembly of Maharashtra as on 31/1/2010 for the general elections of the Municipal Corporation, Aurangabad scheduled to be held on 11/4/2010. 2. On notice of this petition being issued to the respondents, the respondents have filed their affidavit in reply. In the affidavit in reply, it is stated that the State Election Commission had instructed the Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, Aurangabad to prepare Ward- wise electoral rolls for the general election of the Aurangabad Municipal Corporation. Taking into consideration the electoral rolls for 2 the Assembly constituencies falling between the limits of Aurangabad Municipal Corporation as on 31/1/2010. It is further stated that Aurangabad Municipal Corporation had prepared necessary electoral rolls for the general election of the Aurangabad Municipal Corporation and these rolls have been prepared without photographs. Mr. Palodkar, learned counsel for the petitioner has further admitted that electoral rolls prepared without photographs of the voters is not an irregularity, which would vitiate the elections. Further in the affidavit in reply of the respondents, it is stated that it is physically not possible to prepare afresh electoral rolls with the photographs of the voters. Adequate steps have been taken by the authorities to ensure that the voter produces certain documents, which would identify him properly. 3. Any interference at this stage in this petition would amount to interference with the election process and as the elections are scheduled to be held on 11/4/2010 and as it is not possible for the authorities to prepare fresh electoral rolls containing photographs of the voters, we are not inclined to interfere in this petition. This Writ Petition is according summarily dismissed with no order as to costs. [ S.V.GANGAPURWALA ] [ P.V.HARDAS ] JUDGE JUDGE knp/WP 2216.10