Latest news with #PanchayatiRajAct
Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
U'khand HC upholds ban on dual voter candidates in panchayat polls
Dehradun: Uttarakhand high court on Monday refused to lift its stay on individuals whose names appear in both rural and urban electoral rolls from contesting or voting in this month's three-tier . Tired of too many ads? go ad free now A division bench of Chief Justice G Narendar and Justice Alok Mahra held that such nominations violated the Uttarakhand Panchayati Raj Act and undermined the legality of the electoral process. The court clarified that its July 11 order was not a stay on the election process itself but applied specifically to a circular issued by the State Election Commission on July 6, directing district election officials not to disqualify candidates whose names appeared in both urban and rural voter lists. The bench ruled that the circular contradicted Section 9(6) of the Panchayati Raj Act, which prohibits any person enrolled in more than one electoral roll from contesting panchayat elections. This provision is meant to prevent misuse of dual residencies and preserve the integrity of the democratic process. Courts have previously directed the commission to strictly enforce these disqualification clauses. The State Election Commission, in its application filed on Sunday, argued that the court's order had caused confusion and disrupted the electoral process, especially after considerable resources had already been mobilised. It added that continuing the stay would create serious logistical obstacles in the conduct of elections. Petitioner Satendra Singh Barthwal, a resident of Rudraprayag, had moved court citing discrepancies in the electoral process. His counsel, Abhijay Negi, said the July 6 circular allowed ineligible candidates to bypass legal safeguards laid down in the Act by enabling them to contest despite being registered in both voter lists. Despite the high court's ruling, several such candidates were still in the fray, in violation of the law and the court order.
Hans India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Hans India
Overflowing Drains, Mosquito Menace: BJP Flags Neglect in Jogulamba Gadwal Village
Gadwal: A major sanitation crisis has been brought to light in TT Doddi village under Aija Mandal, Jogulamba Gadwal district. The visit, led by BJP Mandal President Gopalakrishna, exposed severe issues such as clogged drainage systems, stagnant wastewater, and unbearable stench—all of which are causing distress to local residents, especially school children. Speaking during the inspection, BJP's former District President Ramachandra Reddy expressed serious concern over the deteriorated state of hygiene in the village. He observed that silt-filled drains and blocked canals were causing wastewater to overflow onto the roads, turning them into breeding grounds for mosquitoes and sources of foul odors. He noted that a government school is located adjacent to this unsanitary area, putting the health and comfort of school children at significant risk. Reddy accused the current state government of neglecting Panchayati Raj governance and failing to empower village-level administrations. 'The Panchayati Raj Act has been completely ignored in Telangana. As a result, welfare schemes and development programs are not reaching rural populations effectively,' he stated. The BJP leaders stressed that villages across the state are facing similar sanitation and development challenges due to administrative apathy. They called for the immediate conduct of local body elections, stating that only elected local representatives can ensure proper governance and cleanliness in villages. Without timely elections, they warned, rural citizens would continue to suffer from these avoidable hardships. The visit concluded with a public appeal demanding swift governmental intervention and the restoration of basic civic amenities in TT Doddi. Those present at the program included Gadwal contested MLA Balgera Shiva Reddy, Pradeep Swamy, Narasanna Goud, Shashi Kumar, Giddanna, Gopalu, Shankaram, and numerous village residents. Key Demands: Immediate clearance and repair of village drainage systems Action to eliminate mosquito breeding grounds Timely conduct of local body elections Effective implementation of sanitation and development programs at the village level. The call for action reflects growing discontent among rural communities over government inaction and highlights the urgent need for infrastructural reforms in Telangana's villages.
New Indian Express
2 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Uttarakhand HC firm on dual voter list order; SEC faces fresh setback in Panchayat polls
DEHRADUN: In a significant blow to the State Election Commission (SEC), the Nainital High Court has once again taken a stringent stand on the upcoming three-tier Panchayat elections in Uttarakhand, slated for the end of this month. During a crucial hearing on Monday, the court issued explicit directives, stating that elections must adhere strictly to the provisions of the Panchayati Raj Act, warning that no violation would be tolerated. The court reiterated that candidates whose names appear on voter lists in two different locations will be deemed ineligible to contest. This controversy primarily revolves around candidates whose names are registered in both municipal (urban) and three-tier Panchayat (rural) voter lists. Dehradun-based social activist Shakti Singh Bartwal initially highlighted this anomaly. On July 7 and 8, Bartwal wrote to the Uttarakhand State Election Commission, urging them to issue clear guidelines to prevent voters listed in urban body electoral rolls from participating or nominating themselves in the Panchayat elections. Dissatisfied with the Commission's response and alleging non-compliance with Sub-sections 6 and 7 of Section 9 of the Panchayati Raj Act, Bartwal filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the High Court. His petition argued that having names on two separate voter lists is considered a criminal offense in other states, questioning the basis on which the Uttarakhand SEC was approving such candidacies.
New Indian Express
4 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Uttarakhand HC stays dual voter list circular, affirms constitutional right to vote
DEHRADUN: The Uttarakhand High court has temporarily stayed a controversial circular issued by the State Election Commission (SEC) regarding individuals whose names appear on both urban municipal and rural gram panchayat voter lists. While affirming that a person can only vote or contest elections from a single location, a division bench also underscored the constitutional right of every citizen to exercise their franchise. The matter was heard by a bench comprising Chief Justice G Narendar and Justice Alok Mehra. The court's decision came amidst a public interest litigation (PIL) challenging the ambiguity surrounding dual voter entries during the forthcoming Panchayat elections. The SEC had initially circulated a directive to all District Magistrates, seeking clarification on whether individuals listed in both urban and rural voter rolls should be permitted to vote or contest. However, the commission reportedly received no clear or positive response from the administration on this crucial query. During Friday's hearing, the High Court put a stay on the SEC's circular, explicitly stating that it was not in favour of obstructing the ongoing election process. The Election Commission, in its submission, explained that the circular was merely an attempt to seek opinions from District Magistrates on the applicability of rules for those with dual entries. The SEC further clarified that Sub-section 13 of Section 9 of the Panchayati Raj Act mandates that a voter or candidate's name should appear in only one voter list.
The Hindu
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Quarry accident: case to be filed against owner
A high-level meeting of government departments held in Konni on Thursday decided to initiate legal action against the owner of the Chengalam quarry at Payyanamon, following the accident in which falling rocks crushed two workers to death. The decision comes in the wake of a finding by the Labour department that adequate safety measures were not in place at the time of the accident. In addition, an investigation will be launched into allegations that the quarry had encroached upon government land. As part of it, a joint team of officials is expected to conduct a detailed inspection at the quarry. Land grab At the meeting, Konni MLA K.U. Jineesh Kumar called for a thorough probe into the safety lapses that led to the accident. He also demanded that all complaints against the quarry be examined. 'It has been found that the quarry owner had illegally erected a gate by encroaching on panchayat land and it will be removed with police assistance. Action will be taken under the Panchayati Raj Act. Allegations that waste from the quarry is flowing into nearby water sources and that it is operating in a landslides-prone area will also be investigated,' the MLA said. Meanwhile, the Pathanamthitta District Administration has directed officials from various departments to inspect all quarries operating in Konni, Ranni and other parts of the district and to submit a report within 10 days. The scope of the probe also includes verifying whether the Chengalam quarry was functioning illegally. A drone survey will be conducted to examine claims that quarrying was carried out by encroaching upon revenue land. Quarry operations at the site have been temporarily suspended. The meeting was attended by Adoor Revenue Divisional Officer M. Bipin Kumar, Deputy Collector for Disaster Management R. Rajalakshmi, Fire and Rescue Services district chief Pratap Chandran, Konni tahsildar N.V. Santhosh, and Deputy Superintendent of Police G. Ajaynath, along with public representatives and senior officials. Two workers, identified as Mahadev Pradhan and Ajay Rai, lost their lives when a massive rockslide struck the excavator they were operating. Due to recurring rock falls, rescue efforts were delayed and it took nearly two days to recover their bodies. The operation could be completed only after a long-boom excavator was brought in from Alappuzha.
