Two child norm: Confusion prevails on panchayat polls

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Two child norm: Confusion prevails on panchayat polls

Saturday, 21 September 2019 | PNS | DEHRADUN

The statement of Panchayat Raj Minister, Arvind Pandey, that the Uttarakhand High Court (HC) order on two child norm in the ensuing Panchayat elections would be challenged in the Supreme Court (SC) has created confusion in the minds of contestants of these polls. The HC in a landmark decision had ruled that the candidates having more than two children before to July 25, 2019 are eligible to contest the panchayat elections.

The court’s order effectively nullified the Uttarakhand Panchayat Raj (amendment) Act-2019 enacted by the Uttarakhand Assembly in the four-day special Session in June this year.

Under the amended Act, the persons having more than two children were debarred from contesting the panchayat elections.

Senior Congress leader Jot Singh Bisht and his non-political organisation Uttarakhand Janadhikar Manch (UJM) challenged the new provisions in the amended Act in the HC which ruled in their favour. Seemingly taken aback by the HC order, the Panchayat Raj Minister Arvind Pandey said on Thursday that the order would be challenged in the SC. He also added that the two child norm was introduced to promote the concept of population control in masses. The statement created confusion in the minds of the contestants who in the light of HC order were planning to throw their hats in the elections.

Friday was the first day of the nomination for the first phase of polls scheduled on October 5. “ I have three children and after the HC order I was planning to file my papers for the post of district panchayat member today, but since there is confusion, I have decided to wait,’’ said a person belonging to Pauri.

When contacted, the State Election Commissioner, Chandrasekhar Bhatt, told The Pioneer that there should be no confusion and the HC order would be implemented totally. He said that the commission has sent the copies of the HC order to the District Magistrates.

More than 65,000 Panchayat representatives in 12 districts of Uttarakhand would be elected in these elections.

The tenure of Panchayats in all the districts of Uttarakhand barring Haridwar ended in July this year after which the State Government has appointed administrators in the Panchayats.

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