The Defence Ministry’s notification dated February 26 read, ‘In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) of section 15 of the Cantonments Act, 2006, the Central Government hereby directs May 18, 2008 as the date on which elections to the following Cantonment Boards shall be held.’ This was followed by a list of the 61 Cantonments.

“It is a relief to know that democracy has triumphed,” said the petitioners Mahajan and Sawant. They had filed writ petitions against the Union of India in 2006 arguing that, despite both the boards had completed their pre-election formalities, the elections had been delayed for six years.

“The term of the previous elected boards of Pune and Khadki cantonments had already expired in 2002. It was extended by a year and then varied for another two years. The fact that no elections had been declared even by 2005 had triggered the writ petitions,” said advocate Akhil Sibal who fought the petitioners’ case.

With both the writ petitions having reached their logical conclusion, the court order is the first to be passed on the election issue after the introduction of the new Cantonment Boards Act in 2006.