Uttarakhand High Court.
Uttarakhand High Court Allows Panchayat Elections in State: Nainital – The Uttarakhand High Court has given its approval for the continuation of the panchayat election process in the state. This decision, announced on Friday, brings significant relief to the state government, as the Court lifted its earlier stay order issued on June 23.
A division bench, consisting of Chief Justice G. Narendra and Justice Alok Mehra, reviewed the reservation roster and other essential documents submitted by the Uttarakhand government. After examining these materials, the bench agreed to allow the elections to proceed.
Earlier Stay and Government’s Response
The High Court had initially put a halt to the panchayat elections on June 23, just two days after their announcement on June 21. This earlier stay was a setback for the state government. The Court had requested clarifications on several issues, particularly concerning reservations in the election process.
However, a critical hearing took place on Friday regarding the eagerly anticipated three-tier panchayat elections. During these proceedings, the Court considered the various petitions filed and granted interim relief to the state, allowing the election process to move forward.
Advocates representing the Uttarakhand government informed the Court that all necessary preparations for the panchayat elections had been completed. They also assured the bench that all legal protocols had been diligently followed. Conversely, the petitioners in the case raised several technical and constitutional concerns about the election process.
Court’s Decision and Future Steps
After carefully considering the arguments presented by both sides, the High Court decided not to impose a further stay on the elections. The Court explicitly stated that the election process could continue.
This ruling is a major development for the Uttarakhand government. It effectively clears the path for the State Election Commission to officially announce the full election schedule.
The case was titled Ganesh Datt Kandpal v State of Uttarakhand and Ors.
