In the Jharkhand High Court, a public interest lawsuit was filed seeking panchayat elections in the state.
The PIL has been filed by Jayaprakash Pandit of Deoghar alleging that the government violates the rules by not conducting panchayat elections. Article 243 of the Constitution makes it clear that elections are compulsory as soon as the term ends, but instead of empowering panchayats, the Jharkhand government wants to retain all the rights, the petition states.
The petition also calls on the government to retain the order issued on 7.1.2021, giving all delegates authority for six months while the panchayat elections are proceeding.
The petition stated that there was no provision to extend the right of six months to the representatives of the people after the expiry of the term, so the government’s order should be stayed. The court was told that during the lockdown, by-elections were successfully carried out by the Dumka and Bermo Assembly. Preparations are now being made for the Madhupur by-election as well. It is also possible to conduct panchayat elections in such a situation. The court was asked to direct the government to conduct elections for the panchayat as soon as possible, the petitioner said.
