A public interest litigation has been filed in the Jharkhand High Court seeking panchayat elections in the state.
Jayaprakash Pandit of Deoghar has filed the PIL alleging the government is violating the rules by not conducting panchayat elections. Article 243 of the Constitution makes it clear that elections are compulsory as soon as the term ends, but the Government of Jharkhand wants to retain all the rights instead of empowering panchayats, the petition states.
The petition also calls for the government to stay the order issued on 7.1.2021, giving the authority of all the delegates for six months while proceeding to the panchayat elections.
The petition said that after the expiry of the term, there is no provision to extend the right of six months to the people’s representatives, so the government’s order should be stayed.
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The court was told that Dumka and Bermo Assembly by-elections were successfully conducted during the lockdown. Now preparations are also being made for Madhupur by-election. In such a situation, panchayat elections can also be conducted. The court has been requested to direct the government to conduct panchayat elections as early as possible, the petitioner said.