DEHRADUN: The Nainital High Court on Friday lifted the stay on panchayat elections in Uttarakhand, allowing the electoral process to proceed. However, it has directed the state government to respond to public interest litigations (PILs) alleging irregularities in the reservation roster.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice G. Narendra and Justice Alok Mahra removed the stay after hearing multiple petitions challenging the reservation roster for the state's panchayat elections.
The bench instructed the State Election Commission to issue a revised election schedule, extending the previous one by three days. The state government has also been granted three weeks to submit its response to the issues raised in the petitions.
The petitioners have raised concerns about the allocation of reservations for Block Pramukh and Zila Panchayat President posts. They allege that several seats have been continuously reserved for the same category over an extended period, which they argue contravenes Article 243 of the Constitution and various Supreme Court rulings.
Representing the state, Advocate General Surya Narayan Babulkar and Chief Standing Counsel C.D. Rawat defended the new reservation roster. Advocate General Babulkar stated, “It was necessary to invalidate the previous reservation roster following the report from the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) and to issue a new one for the current elections.” Rawat added that the revised roster ensures compliance with legal mandates after the earlier one was deemed invalid.
The High Court had initially stayed the panchayat elections on 23 June, even though the State Election Commission had already issued its election notification.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) State President Mahendra Bhatt welcomed the court’s decision, expressing satisfaction that the path has now been cleared for the formation of rural self-governments.
Bhatt also criticised the Congress party, accusing it of obstructing the electoral process. “The Congress party had been creating hurdles in the way of elections and then, ironically, blamed the government for delays,” Bhatt said. “The High Court’s decision is a clear slap in their face.”