THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK
Ranchi, Jan. 4: The Jharkhand High Court today directed the State Government and the Jharkhand Government to notify the long pending elections for municipal bodies within three weeks.
According to lawyer Binod Singh, the court delivered its judgment given the Supreme Court judgement and an undertaking submitted by the State Election Commission.
Singh said that the Supreme Court, in its judgement related to Suresh Mahajan, has said that the government cannot withhold the civic body elections on the ground of not counting other back castes (OBCs) known as triple test for giving reservation to the OBCs.
State Backward Commission
He stated that the State Backward Commission is still headless. Outgoing councillors Roshni Khalkho and Arun Jha filed a petition.
They said in their petition that the tenure of the municipal councillors has ended. The government should hold elections before the completion of its five-year term. This is also mentioned in Section 20 of the Municipal Act.
“Many works have been affected due to the Municipal Corporation elections not being held. All the work related to the public has been handed over to the officers. People are facing a lot of problems due to this government decision.
Elections pending since 2020
In Jharkhand, elections of 14 municipal bodies are pending since 2000. Apart from Ranchi, Hazaribagh, Giridih, Medininagar, Garhwa, Chatra, Madhupur, Godda, Sahibganj, Pakur, Mihijam, Adityapur Municipal Corporation, Chirkunda, Phusro, Gumla, Lohardaga, Simdega, Ramgarh, Chaibasa, Kapali, Nagar Untari, Hussainabad, Chhatarpur, the civic boards of Latehar, Domchanch, Rajmahal, Barharwa, Basukinath, Jamtara, Khunti, Bundu and Seraikela-Kharsawan have also been dissolved.