Court puts Uttarakhand local polls on hold over lack of clarity in reservation
The Uttarakhand High Court on Monday put an interim stay on the upcoming Panchayati Raj elections in the state, citing ambiguity over reservation provisions.In its order, the court observed that the state government had failed to present a clear stance on the issue of reservation in panchayat bodies. The court noted that due to this lack of clarity, it was compelled to put a hold on the election process.advertisementThe court order came a day after the Uttarakhand State Election Commission notified the schedule for three-tier panchayat elections.
State Election Commissioner Sushil Kumar had announced that polling across 12 districts would be held on July 10, with counting scheduled for July 19.The nomination process was set to begin on June 25, with the last date for filing papers being June 28. Scrutiny of nominations was to take place between June 29 and July 1, while election symbols were to be allotted on July 3.With the notification issued, the Model Code of Conduct had also come into force and was to remain in effect until the results were declared.
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Time of India
a day ago
- Time of India
Panchayat polls rescheduled, voting on July 24 & 28
Dehradun: The Uttarakhand State Election Commission on Saturday issued a notification for the three-tier panchayat elections, stating that the election process will begin on July 2 with the filing of nominations. Voting will be held in two phases -- on July 24 and 28 -- across 12 districts, excluding Haridwar. The revised schedule follows a stay by the Uttarakhand high court on the issue of seat reservations, which had initially delayed elections set for July 10 and 15. However, on Friday, a division bench comprising Chief Justice G Narendra and Justice Alok Mehra vacated the stay order issued on June 23, noting that the repetition of reservations was minimal and consistent with article 243D of the Constitution. Following the court's order, state election commissioner Sushil Kumar issued the notification on Saturday. As per the revised schedule, nominations will be accepted from July 2 to 5, scrutiny will take place from July 7 to 9, and withdrawals can be made from July 10 to 11. Counting of votes will take place on July 31. "The elections of members of all gram panchayats, pradhans, area panchayats and district panchayats (in 12 districts except Haridwar) will be conducted," the notification stated, citing powers under article 243-K of the Constitution. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Thị trường có dấu hiệu suy thoái không? IC Markets Đăng ký Undo The election process was first challenged by Ganesh Dut Kandpal from Bageshwar, who objected to the state govt's decision to revoke the previous reservation rotation system and introduce new rules via notifications issued on June 9 and 11. Petitioners argued that some seats had remained reserved for four consecutive terms, undermining the principle of rotation and limiting electoral opportunities for others.
India Gazette
a day ago
- India Gazette
Uttarakhand panchayat elections to be held in two phases from July 24
Dehradun (Uttarakhand) [India], June 28 (ANI): The State Election Commission in Uttarakhand on Saturday issued a notification regarding the conduct of panchayat elections in 12 districts of the state, except Haridwar. The notification signed by Sushil Kumar, Uttarakhand State Election Commissioner, comes after the Nainital High Court on Friday permitted the continuation of the panchayat election process, lifting its earlier stay order issued on June 23. According to the notification, the three-tier panchayat elections will be held in two phases in the state. Voting under the first phase will take place on July 24, and voting under the second phase will take place on July 28. The counting of votes will be done on July 31. The dates for filing nomination papers for the panchayat elections are set from July 2 to July 5. The scrutiny of the nomination papers will be carried out from July 7 to July 9. The dates for withdrawing nominations are set from July 10 to July 11. 'Therefore, exercising the powers conferred in Article 243-K of the 'Constitution of India', I, Sushil Kumar, State Election Commissioner, Uttarakhand, hereby direct that the elections of members of all the Gram Panchayats, Pradhans of Gram Panchayats, members of Area Panchayats and members of District Panchayats of 12 (twelve) districts of Uttarakhand State (except District Haridwar) will be conducted...' the notification read. On Friday, after hearing the reservation roster and other documents presented by the government in the Nainital High Court, the division bench of Chief Justice G. Narendra and Justice Alok Mehra agreed to proceed with the process of panchayat elections. It must be noted that after the announcement of panchayat elections on June 21, on June 23, the High Court gave a big blow by staying the elections and seeking answers from the government on many points, including reservation. However, an important hearing was held in the Uttarakhand High Court on Friday regarding the much-awaited three-tier panchayat elections in Uttarakhand. While hearing the petitions filed by the petitioners, the court has given interim relief to the state government and allowed it to conduct the panchayat elections. During the hearing, the advocates on behalf of the state government informed the court that full preparations have been made for the panchayat elections and the legal process has been followed. At the same time, the petitioners raised some technical and constitutional issues. After hearing the arguments of both parties, the court refused to stay the elections for the time being and clarified that the election process can move forward. (ANI)
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Indian Express
Uttarakhand High Court vacates stay on panchayat elections
Observing that the repetition of reservation in seats is minuscule and in compliance with Article 243D of the Constitution, the Uttarakhand High Court vacated the stay on panchayat elections and ordered that the process be resumed. The pleas, which prompted the stay on June 23, were by a clutch of petitioners arguing that the government's decision to nullify the existing reservation rotation for the panchayat polls and bring about a new rotation has prevented them from being able to contest. Under the reservation rotation system, constituencies are reserved for various categories for three terms, after which the quota goes to other seats. With a new rotation starting this year, the petitioner had said a seat that had been reserved for the last three terms would again be reserved this year, preventing him from contesting the election. The division bench of Chief Justice G Narender and Justice Alok Mahra heard the counsel for the government who argued that the repetition was conducted on the recommendations of a report by a committee and was in compliance with the provisions of Article 234 D of the Constitution (pertaining to the reservation of seat in Panchayati Raj system). While arguing, the counsel for the state had relied on the Supreme Court's verdicts on withholding elections. 'The apex court has held that withholding election is a breach of constitutional mandate, for any reason, and even the SC cannot do it, even under article 142. This constitutional mandate that elections should proceed at any cost is inviolable,' the Advocate General had said. On Friday, the HC said that the rulings of the Supreme Court that the counsel relied on elucidated one invariable rule that the constitutional courts may stall the election process where there is no compliance with the constitutional mandate regarding reservation under Article 243-D of the Constitution of India. Aiswarya Raj is a correspondent with The Indian Express who covers South Haryana. An alumna of Asian College of Journalism and the University of Kerala, she started her career at The Indian Express as a sub-editor in the Delhi city team. In her current position, she reports from Gurgaon and covers the neighbouring districts. She likes to tell stories of people and hopes to find moorings in narrative journalism. ... Read More
