Dehradun: The three-tier Panchayat elections in Uttarakhand have been postponed for further orders. The State Election Commission has taken this decision after the order of the High Court. Whereas, earlier the State Election Commission had issued a notification and announced the dates of the elections, but the High Court had put a stay on the election process itself for announcing the elections without issuing the notification of the rules related to the reservation system i.e. the gazette notification.
Earlier voting was to be held on these dates: It is worth noting that on 21st June, the State Election Commission had issued a notification regarding conducting three-tier panchayat elections in the remaining 12 districts except Haridwar district. Under which panchayat elections were to be held in Uttarakhand in two phases. In which the nomination process was to be held from 25th June to 28th June. After which voting was to be held on 10th and 15th July. Whereas, the date of counting of votes was fixed on 19th July, but due to the unclear situation on reservation, the High Court put a stay on the election process.
Election process postponed till further orders: Now the State Election Commission of Uttarakhand has issued a notification stating that a petition has been filed in the Nainital High Court. Which is Ganesh Dutt Kandpal vs State of Uttarakhand and others. In which it was ordered on 23rd June that the promulgation of the reservation rules by the state government for the three-tier panchayat elections is not duly notified.
Due to which the determination of reservation in compliance with this rule and the entire action taken accordingly is postponed till further orders. After which the process of Panchayat elections was stopped. Today again the matter was heard in the High Court. In which the government put forth its side and presented the gazette notification.
Along with this, today i.e. on June 24, the High Court heard the government’s side in the Deepak Kirola vs Uttarakhand State and others case on the request of the state government. After which the court fixed the date of June 25 to hear all the petitions together. In such a situation, after the order of the Nainital High Court, the State Election Commission has issued a letter and established all the programs of the three-tier Panchayat elections.
The State Election Commission says that after the order of the Nainital High Court, the reservation related action of the state government has been postponed till further orders. Due to which the status of reservation and allocation of posts / places is not clear. In such a situation, it is not possible to conduct advance proceedings of other elections including nomination of three-tier Panchayat elections. Therefore, the nomination proceedings and other proceedings are postponed till further orders.
