Allahabad: In a setback to the Mulayam Singh Yadav Government in Uttar Pradesh, the Allahabad High Court today (May 21, 2004) quashed the notification abolishing the nine districts and four commissionerates created by the previous Mayawati Government.

The notification was issued by the Yadav Government on January 13, 2004.

A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Tarun Chatterjee and Justice Ashok Bhushan passed the order on a bunch of writ petitions challenging the State Government notification.

The petitioners had challenged the Government order abolishing nine districts and four commissionerates on the ground that it was decided in an arbitrary manner and on political considerations.

The four divisions were Devipatan, Basti, Mirzapur and Saharanpur while the districts were Jyotibaphule Nagar, Shrawasti, Mahamaya Nagar (Hathras), Sant Kabir Nagar, Kausambi, Auriya, Gautam Budh Nagar, Chandauli and Ambedkar Nagar.