In a crucial development, the Uttarakhand government has assured the Nainital High Court that municipal elections will be completed by October 25, 2024. This statement was made during the hearing of public interest litigations (PILs) challenging the delay in conducting the scheduled municipal elections in the state.
Uttarakhand Govt. to Hold Municipal Elections by October 25, 2024, Following High Court Directive
The High Court had earlier questioned the state government regarding its plan to hold municipal elections, as per previous orders. The government was asked to present a timeline for the appointment of the State Election Commissioner and the completion of the municipal elections.
During the latest hearing, Additional Secretary for Urban Development, Nitin Bhadauria, informed the court that the State Election Commissioner would be appointed by the last week of August or the first week of September 2024. Furthermore, he assured that the municipal elections would be completed by October 25, 2024.
Representing the state government, Advocate General S.N. Babulkar explained that the delay in holding the elections was due to the Lok Sabha elections and the ongoing monsoon season, which had engaged the state administration in disaster management efforts. He emphasized that the state was now prepared to conduct the municipal elections before the October deadline.
The State Election Commission highlighted several challenges arising from the government’s delay in conducting elections. The commission noted that the term of municipal bodies had expired in December 2023, and administrators were appointed for six months. However, their term ended in June 2024, and it was extended further by the state government. The commission argued that this delay, coupled with the government’s recent announcements concerning several municipal corporations and councils, could complicate the election process.
The petitioner, Mohammad Anwar from Jaspur, had filed a PIL arguing that the state government failed to adhere to the constitutional mandate of conducting elections six months before the end of the municipal bodies’ term. The petitioner’s counsel pointed out that despite the government’s repeated assurances in court, elections had not been held, causing administrative issues and denying citizens their democratic rights.
The bench, comprising Chief Justice Ritu Bahri and Justice Rakesh Thapliyal, heard the case and expressed concerns over the delay. The court is expected to issue further directives to ensure that the municipal elections are conducted promptly.
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