Local body polls: State asks Telangana HC 30 days to announce BC reservations
The judge was hearing a batch of 6 writ petitions filed by former sarpanches of various gram panchayats
By Newsmeter Network
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Hyderabad: The Telangana High Court on Monday reserved orders in the six writ petitions filed regarding the local body elections.
The HC Single Bench, comprising Justice T Madhavi, reminded the Addl. Advocate General that the State Government had assured the court that it would hold elections to the local bodies by February 2025.
Md. Imran Khan Addl. Advocate General Telangana informed the court that the Telangana government requires 30 days to declare BC reservations in the local body elections, and the State Government is strictly going ahead with the BC reservations as directed by the Supreme Court.
SEC on poll timeline
On the other hand, Vidyasagar, senior counsel appearing for the State Election Commission, informed the court that it will hold elections to the Gram Panchayats within 60 days after the State Government declares the BC reservations in the Local Body elections.
What is the case about?
The judge was hearing a batch of 6 writ petitions filed by former sarpanches of various gram panchayats, with a plea to hold the elections or extend their term further.
The petitioners are aggrieved by the action of the State Government in deciding to hand over the day-to-day administration of the gram panchayats to the special officers in violation of Articles 243E and 243K of the Constitution, besides being contrary to the provisions of the Telangana Panchayat Raj Act, 2018.
All the petitioners contended before the court, stating that they have spent their personal money running into lakhs of rupees and took up various developmental activities in their respective gram panchayats and the State is obligated to reimburse the money spent by them from the State Finance Commission, which it has not done.
Polls are conducted six months before the expiry of term
Further, the counsels for the petitioners reminded about the clause, which states that elections to the local bodies should be held within six months from the date of expiry of their term.
