Panchayat elections should be held within 6 months, High Court gave instructions to the state government

The Manipur High Court on Friday directed the state government to hold panchayat elections within six months. The order was issued by a division bench of Chief Justice Kempia Somasekhar and Justice Guneshwar Sharma during a hearing on the long pending local body elections. Let us know that panchayat elections in the state were last in 2017. Although new elections were to be held in June 2023 after the completion of the five -year term, they remained pending. Since then, Panchayati Raj Institutions have been functioning through administrative committees.

The High Court said in its hearing, “To make the Panchayati Raj system in Manipur smooth, the state government has been given the freedom to appoint a new administrative committee for the Gram Panchayat and the Zilla Parishad, which is not for more than six months.” The court has also quashed all prior orders of the state government to appoint administrative committees.

Instructions given to the state government

The High Court said, “All orders for appointment of Administrator for the Administrative Committee of Gram Panchayat and Zilla Parishad, which were issued by the state government for a period of more than 6 (six) months and until the election were issued by the state government for a period of more than 6 (six) months and until the elections were canceled.” The court said, “The state government is instructed to hold new elections within a period of six months.”

Congress demands renewed election

On the other hand, Congress MP Saptagiri Shankar Ulaka has demanded a fresh election in Manipur. He said on Thursday that the party wants to return to peace and brotherhood in the state. He was addressing the state level rally of ‘Vote Chor, Gaddi Chor’ in Imphal. Ulaka, in -charge of the Congress’s Manipur affairs, said, “We are holding this rally here so that you know what is happening in the country. The Congress party, our leader Rahul Gandhi will ensure that the democracy inherent in the Constitution is protected.”

MP Saptagiri Shankar Ulaka said that the BJP and its allies in the 60 -member Manipur Assembly have been imposed President’s rule in the state despite having 55 MLAs. He said, “Our demand is simple. We want a fresh election in Manipur, where people will choose their government and resolve the issues. There is no solution at the moment, there is no peace. We will stand with Manipur and ensure to bring back peace and brotherhood in the state.” (Input-PTI)

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