Uttarakhand Gram Panchayat election 2019: HC allows candidates with more than two children to contest, but with rider
The BJP-led state government earlier in July had inserted a provision in the Uttarakhand Panchayat Raj Amendment Act, 2019, that said parents with more than two children will be disqualified from filing nomination and contesting the panchayat elections.
-
Uttarakhand High Court on Tuesday said that candidates with more than two children will be allowed to contest the upcoming panchayat elections
-
The two-member bench of the high court also said that the law will be applicable to only those parents who had a third child or more after 25 July, 2019
-
The panchayat elections will be held in the 12 districts of the state and candidates can start filing nominations from 20 September
In a relief to those seeking to contest the upcoming panchayat election, the Uttarakhand High Court on Thursday said that aspirants having more than two children born before 25 July, 2019, will be eligible to contest the elections.
File image of Uttarakhand High Court. News18
The two-member bench of the high court said that the law will be applicable to only those parents who had a third child or more after 25 July, 2019.
The high court order came ahead of the state panchayat elections, which is scheduled to start from 6 October, 2019.
Related Articles
The BJP-led state government earlier in July had inserted a provision in the Uttarakhand Panchayat Raj Amendment Act, 2019, that said parents with more than two children will be disqualified from filing nomination and contesting the panchayat elections, News18 reported.
The judgment by the division bench of Chief Justice Ramesh Ranganathan and Justice Alok Kumar Verma stated: "We, therefore, read down Section 8(1)(r) and declare that the disqualification from contesting elections to Panchayati Raj Institution, in terms of the said provision, would apply only to cases where persons, having two children or more, have a third child or more after 25 July, 2019. The said provision shall not be understood as disqualifying those who already have three or more children before 25 July, 2019”, said the high court order.
Congress leader Jot Singh Bisht and others had challenged the provision brought in the law by the Trivendra Singh Rawat-led BJP government before the High Court earlier this year, The New Indian Express reported.
The panchayat elections in the state will be held in the 12 districts.
Candidates can start filing nominations from 20 September. The first phase of voting for the panchayat elections will be held on 6 October, followed by the second phase of voting on 11 October and the final phase of voting on 16 October. The results for all phases of the election will be announced on 21 October.
With inputs from agencies
also read
Landslide causes stranded travelers in Uttarakhand, rescue efforts underway
Weather department has issued a dust storm and thundershower alert for several districts in Uttarakhand, including Almora, Bageshwar, Chamoli, Champawat, Dehradun, Garhwal, Hardwar, Nainital, Pithoragarh, Rudraprayag, Tehri Garhwal and Uttarkashi
Will initiate strict action against love jihad cases, says Uttarakhand CM Dhami
"We have called for strict probe and action against love jihad cases. Today, we will chair a high-level meeting with DGP and other officials," Dhami said
Uttarakhand CM Dhami orders police to take 'stern action' against love jihad after rise in cases
In the past few weeks, Haridwar, Chamoli and Uttarkashi have witnessed nearly half a dozen incidents of attempted abduction of minor Hindu girls by Muslim men who hid their religious identity to befriend them