Shimla, Nov. 4 -- The Himachal Pradesh High Court on Tuesday issued notice to the state government and other respondents while taking cognisance of a public interest litigation (PIL) challenging the state cabinet's decision to extend the tenure of the Shimla Mayor and Deputy Mayor from two and a half years to five years.

The PIL, filed by advocate Anjali Soni Verma, contends that the government's recent ordinance extending the term violates the constitutional rights of women councillors and disrupts the existing reservation roster.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice Gurmeet Singh Sandhawalia and Justice Jiya Lal Bhardwaj heard the matter and directed notices to the State of Himachal Pradesh, the Urban Development Department, the ...