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The Hindu
17 hours ago
- 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
a day ago
- 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.
The Hindu
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Uttarakhand High Court stays panchayat polls amid reservation row
The Uttarakhand High Court on Monday (June 23, 2025) stayed the panchayat elections in the State amid reservation controversy. The notification for the polls was issued by the State Election Commission on Saturday (June 21, 2025). A Division Bench of Chief Justice G. Narendar and Justice Alok Mehra stayed the panchayat polls while hearing petitions against the reservation rotation process for the three-tier elections, which were earlier scheduled to be held in two phases on July 10 and 15. The stay will remain in force till further orders, the Bench said. The stay comes at a time when the model code of conduct was in force in urban areas in 12 districts slated to go to polls, whose results were scheduled to be announced on July 19. Chandresh Kumar, Secretary, Panchayati Raj, Uttarakhand said the process of issuing gazette notification of rules related to the reservation system in panchayat polls was in progress. He said the High Court order would be complied with. 'The copy of the gazette notification of Reservation Rules 2025 is being sent to the Government Press, Roorkee for printing, which will be issued soon and presented before the High Court so that proper judicial guidance can be obtained,' he added. The official clarified that the State government was committed to operating the Panchayati Raj system in a constitutional and legal manner, while respecting fully the instructions of the court.
New Indian Express
7 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Uttarakhand HC slams state over Kedarnath chopper crashes, demands concrete safety plan
DEHRADUN: The Uttarakhand High Court has taken suo motu cognisance of the recent spike in helicopter accidents during the sacred Char Dham Yatra, orally demanding the state government explain the recurring incidents and formulate a robust safety policy for chopper services. This sharp judicial intervention comes as helicopter services to the revered Kedarnath shrine remain suspended for the sixth consecutive day due to adverse weather, leading to thousands of cancelled tickets. A division bench comprising Chief Justice G. Narendar and Justice Alok Mehra, during a crucial hearing, questioned the state government over frequent helicopter crashes, seeking explanations for 'what flaws exist or who is responsible for these incidents?' Emphasising the paramount importance of pilgrim safety, the bench directed the government to establish a comprehensive and definitive policy for helicopter operations, particularly in the treacherous high-altitude regions of Char Dham.
