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The Hindu
27-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Uttarakhand HC clears path for panchayat polls
New Delhi The Uttarakhand High Court on Friday vacated its interim stay on the upcoming panchayat elections, allowing the electoral process to move forward while directing the State government to respond to allegations regarding irregularities in the reservation roster. A Bench comprising Chief Justice G. Narendar and Justice Alok Mahara passed the order while hearing multiple petitions challenging the reservation allocations for the rural body elections. The stay, originally issued on June 23, just two days after the State had announced the election schedule, had stalled polls that were set to take place on July 10 and 15, with results scheduled for July 19. Over a dozen petitions were filed by residents from various districts, raising concerns about repeated allocation of seats to the same social groups over successive terms. The petitioners alleged that such practices violate Article 243 of the Constitution and go against various Supreme Court judgments. They contended that seats for block pramukh and district panchayat president were not being rotated fairly among different categories. In response, the state government informed the court that it had revised the previous reservation roster following observations made by the National Commission for Backward Classes, necessitating a new list for the current elections. After examining submissions from both sides, the court noted that while there were some instances of repetition in reserved seats, the number was negligible when compared to the total number of seats. It also observed that new panchayats had been created following delimitation, contributing to the apparent irregularities. 'Petitioners have raised various contentions, including the validity of Rule 4(4), and argued that even general category seats reserved for women should fall within the 50% reservation ceiling. Prima facie, this argument does not appeal to the Bench,' the court noted in its order. The court has directed the State Election Commission to release a revised election schedule, extending the previously announced dates by four days. It also ordered the state government to file its response to the allegations within three weeks. The matter will next be heard on July 28.
The Hindu
27-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Uttarakhand High Court vacates stay on panchayat elections
The Uttarakhand High Court on Friday (June 27, 2025) vacated the stay on rural body elections in the State. It ordered the State government to respond to petitions alleging irregularities in the reservation roster for the polls. A Bench of Chief Justice G. Narendar and Justice Alok Mahara vacated the stay on panchayat elections while hearing the petitions challenging the reservation roster. The stay was announced on June 23, just two days after the State had announced the schedule for the polls, which were earlier slated for July 10 and 15. The results of the elections were scheduled to be announced on July 19. Over a dozen pleas filed by residents of different districts alleged mismanagement in the allocation of reservation in block pramukh and district panchayat president seats. The petitioners claimed that several seats in the reservation roster, issued by the State, were under representation of the same class for a long time in violation of Article 243 and Supreme Court orders passed from time to time. Responding to the petitioners, the State had informed the court that after the report of the National Commission for Backward Classes, it was necessary to declare the previous reservation roster as void and issue a fresh one for the current panchayat elections. The Bench observed that the number of repetitions in the reservation roster, as pointed out by the petitioners, in comparison with the total seats is miniscule. It is also pointed out that after the delimitation exercise, certain new panchayats have been carved out. The court directed the State Election Commission to release a fresh poll schedule. The State government was asked to respond to the issues raised by the petitioners within three weeks. The case will now be heard on July 28.
Hindustan Times
05-06-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
UP plans direct polls for zila panchayat chairman, block pramukh posts
The Uttar Pradesh government is preparing to overhaul the state's rural electoral system by introducing direct elections for zila panchayat chairman and block pramukhs from 2026, replacing the current indirect voting method. A formal proposal for the constitutional amendment required is set to be sent to the Centre soon. Panchayati Raj minister Om Prakash Rajbhar, who is also the chief of Suheldev Bhartiya Samaj Party (SBSP), an ally of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), said the move is being planned for the upcoming three-tier panchayat elections expected in May 2026. 'The proposal for direct elections will soon be submitted to the central government. It has been discussed with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union home minister Amit Shah and chief minister Yogi Adityanath, and all have given their approval,' Rajbhar said. Currently, zila panchayat chairman and block pramukhs are elected indirectly. Voters elect zila panchayat and block development committee (BDC) members, who in turn elect the chairman and pramukhs. The state has 75 zila panchayats and 825 blocks, according to Rajbhar. The present system has repeatedly drawn criticism for being vulnerable to manipulation. 'There have been instances where candidates kidnapped members to secure votes or used pressure to block rival nominations,' he claimed. Notably, the 2021 panchayat elections were marred by allegations of forceful prevention of nominations and violence. Out of the 75 zila panchayat chairmen elected, 22 won unopposed. BJP secured 21 seats, while the Samajwadi Party won just one. Rajbhar said that indirect elections create opportunities for defection and weaken grassroots governance. 'Those elected are often loyal to whoever is in power, not to their party's ideology or the people. This hampers development,' he said. When asked why the NDA is pushing for direct elections despite having firm control over the existing three-tier panchayati raj system in Uttar Pradesh, gram panchayats at the village level, kshetra panchayats at the block level, and zila panchayats at the district level, Rajbhar said the indirect system has been a hurdle in grassroots development. 'Majority of the candidates win with the backing of money and muscle power. They shift loyalties with changing governments. This weakens both governance and political commitment,' he said, adding that direct elections would enhance public accountability. For the changes to be implemented, a constitutional amendment will be required. Rajbhar noted that panchayat elections fall under Article 243 of the Constitution, which was introduced through the 73rd Amendment and gives a constitutional framework to rural governance. 'The amendment is necessary to allow for direct public elections to these posts. The Panchayati Raj department is finalising the draft proposal,' he said. Citing urban elections as a precedent, Rajbhar said that Mayors in cities are directly elected by the people, and a similar system is needed in rural governance. 'There is no reason why zila panchayat chairman and block pramukhs should not be directly accountable to the voters,' he said. Political observers and opposition leaders have raised concerns over the move. Chaturanan Ojha, a political analyst, said the proposal may lead to an imbalance of power in rural areas. 'If these posts are directly elected, the chairman and pramukhs could become more powerful than MLAs and MPs in their jurisdiction. The current system offers a mechanism for checks and balances through no-confidence motions,' he said. He also cautioned that the constitutional amendment process would require the approval of at least half the states, making it a complex legislative task. Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party leader Rajendra Chaudhary alleged that the BJP government is attempting to control local bodies through administrative means. 'This is not about reforms but about capturing zila panchayats. The government should focus on strengthening panchayats rather than creating confusion,' he said.
