Panchayat polls: HC directs State Election Commission to respond at once

The Madurai Bench of the High Court of Madras has directed the State Election Commission of Tamil Nadu to respond at once to a petition requesting for announcing dates for holding Panchayat pols (local body polls) within the next 15 days.

The local bodies’ tenure in the State ended in October, 2016; in the same month, the Govt. announced that the local body polls would be held on 17th and 19th October.  However, opposition DMK opposed the Govt.’s stance on reserving posts for candidates based on castes. Despite the Court’s instructions in this regard in the past on many occasions, an announcement regarding conduct of local body polls
hasn’t been made.

Officials were appointed, in the meanwhile, to run the affairs of Panchayats at local levels.  The tenure of the officials is getting extended every six months.  K. Ramesh of Madurai, in the meantime, moved the Madurai Bench of the High Court of Madras requesting it to direct the Govt. to make an announcement within the next 15 days about holding Panchayat polls.

Taking up the petition, the Madurai Bench of the High Court of Madras has asked the State Election Commission, Chennai to respond within three weeks (by 23rd March) about making an announcement about conduct of local body polls.  Notices have also been served on Chief Secretary to respond on the issue.