Jharkhand High Court Critiques Government Over Municipal Election Delays
Click to start listening
Ranchi, Jan 13 (NationPress) The Jharkhand High Court has criticized the state government for its delay in holding municipal elections, deeming it an act of contempt. The court underscored that elections cannot be delayed indefinitely under the guise of completing the triple test for OBC reservation in local governing bodies.
The court has also issued a notice to the Election Commission of India and has set the next hearing date for January 16.
This issue originated from a petition submitted by Roshni Khalkho, an outgoing councillor from the Ranchi Municipal Corporation, along with other petitioners.
On January 4 of the previous year, the High Court directed the state government to announce the dates for municipal elections within a three-week timeframe. The court observed that delaying elections beyond the term of municipal bodies leads to a breakdown in constitutional and local governance.
Khalkho subsequently filed a contempt petition, citing the government's failure to comply with the court's directive.
During a session with Justice Anand Sen, the state government argued that the triple test process to finalize OBC reservation percentages was still in progress, and elections would be conducted once it was concluded.
The court expressed its discontent with this reasoning, stating that delaying elections under the pretext of the triple test was inappropriate.
The advocate representing the State Election Commission informed the court that the Election Commission of India had yet to provide an updated voter list despite multiple requests. The lack of cooperation from the state government was also brought to light during the hearing.
Taking a grave view of the matter, the court ordered that a notice be sent to the Election Commission.
The terms for all municipal bodies in Jharkhand expired in April 2023. Elections for the new term were expected by April 27, 2023, but have yet to occur.
The delay is attributed to the state government's choice to complete the triple test process to finalize OBC reservation percentages prior to conducting the elections.
