The Uttarakhand High Court recently, directed the state government to inform the High Court as to the stand of the State with regard to the holding of the election for the gram panchayat in the district Haridwar.
The division bench of Chief Justice Raghvendra Singh Chauhan and Justice Narayan Singh Dhanik heard a PIL, where the petitioner has challenged not only the constitutional validity of Section 130(6) of the Uttarakhand Panchayati Raj Act, but has also challenged the orders dated 28.03.2021 and 30.03.2021, whereby the District Magistrate, Haridwar, had appointed the Assistant Development Officer, Panchayat, as the Administrator to all the village panchayat of the district Haridwar.
Parikshit Saini, counsel for the petitioner submitted that despite the fact that the law requires that the election should be held periodically, yet, the elections has not been held for the gram panchayat in district Haridwar.
B.S. Parihar, counsel appearing for the Election Commission, contended that the Election Commission is working in consultation with the State. However, it is for the State Government to complete the reservation process.
According to the counsel for the petitioner, the reservation process has not even commenced yet.
Once this omission on the part of the State is pointed to the counsel for the State, he seeks time to seek instructions from the State, and to inform the High Court as to the stand of the State with regard to the holding of the election for the gram panchayat in the district Haridwar.
The matter is listed on November 17 for further hearing.
Uttarakhand High Court directs state to inform its stand on gram panchayat polls
