Latest news with #NainitalHighCourt
New Indian Express
31-07-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
SC stays Nainital HC order linking English proficiency to election duty, reignites Hindi vs English debate
DEHRADUN: The Supreme Court has intervened in a contentious national debate, staying a controversial Nainital High Court order that questioned the suitability of an official who could not speak English for election duties. This judicial intervention has reignited a vocal discussion across India about the dominance of English over Hindi in public life, prompting a critical examination of language proficiency as a prerequisite for effective governance in a multi-lingual nation. At the heart of this renewed discussion are strong voices challenging the premise of the High Court's directive. "This is nothing but a colonial hangover," asserted social activist Anup Nautiyal, squarely labelling the notion that only English should be spoken. He passionately argued, "We need to move beyond this English-Hindi dichotomy and the perception that 'only English will be spoken'. As the world flattens, knowledge is also democratising. It is not a preserve of a certain community only." Adding a crucial perspective, senior educationist and former DAV College, Dehradun Principal, Dr Devendra Bhasin, emphasised, "It is essential for everyone to respect Hindi. The development of a country happens by adopting its own language in practice; we have the examples of China and Japan." Senior journalist Kiran Kant highlighted the practical realities within the state, stating unequivocally, "In our state, 90% of PCS officers are Hindi medium educated. If we don't speak Hindi in our own country, where will we speak it?" The High Court decision, which drew national censure, had emerged from a petition concerning alleged irregularities in voter lists for the Budhlakot Gram Panchayat in Nainital. The petitioner claimed that non-residents, including individuals from Odisha, were improperly enrolled. During proceedings on July 18, the High Court specifically sought answers from the Chief Secretary and State Election Commission on a pivotal question: "Can an officer who is unable to speak English effectively control election duties?"
New Indian Express
14-07-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Uttarakhand HC firm on dual voter list order; SEC faces fresh setback in Panchayat polls
DEHRADUN: In a significant blow to the State Election Commission (SEC), the Nainital High Court has once again taken a stringent stand on the upcoming three-tier Panchayat elections in Uttarakhand, slated for the end of this month. During a crucial hearing on Monday, the court issued explicit directives, stating that elections must adhere strictly to the provisions of the Panchayati Raj Act, warning that no violation would be tolerated. The court reiterated that candidates whose names appear on voter lists in two different locations will be deemed ineligible to contest. This controversy primarily revolves around candidates whose names are registered in both municipal (urban) and three-tier Panchayat (rural) voter lists. Dehradun-based social activist Shakti Singh Bartwal initially highlighted this anomaly. On July 7 and 8, Bartwal wrote to the Uttarakhand State Election Commission, urging them to issue clear guidelines to prevent voters listed in urban body electoral rolls from participating or nominating themselves in the Panchayat elections. Dissatisfied with the Commission's response and alleging non-compliance with Sub-sections 6 and 7 of Section 9 of the Panchayati Raj Act, Bartwal filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the High Court. His petition argued that having names on two separate voter lists is considered a criminal offense in other states, questioning the basis on which the Uttarakhand SEC was approving such candidacies.
India Gazette
11-07-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
Dehradun Police launch intensive checks to ensure free and fair Panchayat elections
Dehradun (Uttarakhand) [India], July 11 (ANI): Dehradun Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Ajay Singh directed all local police stations to ensure a free and fair voting process, launching intensive district-wide checks to curb illegal inducements and maintain law and order in view of the Panchayat elections. SSP Dehradun told ANI that in view of the current Panchayat elections, he has directed all the station in-charges of Dehradun to conduct the election process in a fair manner and to keep a vigilant eye on illegal activities by stopping all activities like giving any kind of inducement to vote in one's favor, on which the police is continuously running intensive checking campaigns in the entire district. Earlier, the State Election Commission in Uttarakhand issued a notification regarding the conduct of panchayat elections in 12 districts of the state, except Haridwar. The notification signed by Sushil Kumar, Uttarakhand State Election Commissioner, comes after the Nainital High Court on Friday permitted the continuation of the panchayat election process, lifting its earlier stay order issued on June 23. According to the notification, the three-tier panchayat elections will be held in two phases in the state. Voting under the first phase will take place on July 24, and voting under the second phase will take place on July 28. The counting of votes will be done on July 31. The dates for filing nomination papers for the panchayat elections are set from July 2 to July 5. The scrutiny of the nomination papers will be carried out from July 7 to July 9. The dates for withdrawing nominations are set from July 10 to July 11. In the same sequence, on Thursday, during checking by the Tyuni Police, a four-wheeler was checked and five boxes of dynamite weighing 125 kg were recovered from the vehicle, as per the police. Dehradun Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Ajay Singh said, 'A checking campaign was ordered across Uttarakhand-UP border. Under this, 3 people in a car were checked and we found 125 Kg of explosive material and 2 packets of detonator... They are residents of Himachal Pradesh. According to them, they were taking this for road construction purposes secretly... When inquired, it was known that they were about to use them at various places... The 3 have been arrested under relevant sections of BNS... Our teams have been deployed for verification of the information...' When the necessary documents were sought from the persons in the vehicle regarding the transportation of the said explosive material, they could not show them, on which, on the recovery of illegal explosive material, FIR No 19/2025 Section 3/7 Explosives Act 1884 vs Rinku, Rohit, Sunil was registered at Police Station Tyuni. (ANI)
New Indian Express
03-07-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Nainital HC sounds alarm on teen marriages, orders awareness drive
DEHRADUN: The Uttarakhand High Court has expressed deep concern over the rising number of adolescents entering into marriages and subsequently seeking court protection. The court deems the trend alarming and fraught with serious consequences, including potential charges under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The court had previously summoned Uttrakhand's Secretary for Child Rights Welfare, Chandresh Yadav, who appeared before the bench on Thursday. During the proceedings, the court directed Secretary Chandresh Kumar to prepare and present a comprehensive plan within two weeks. This plan aims to raise public awareness about the seriousness of the POCSO Act and address the growing issue of underage unions. The plan also focusses at sensitising parents especially, about the gravity of the POCSO Act, thereby enabling them to guide their children effectively. A division bench of the Nainital High Court, comprising Chief Justice G. Narendar and Justice Alok Mehra, observed during the hearing of one such case, stating, "This trend is alarming and needs attention." The specific matter before the court involved a 19-year-old youth who, after marrying a girl of his age, sought court protection from her family. The bench noted with concern the increasing number of such cases where petitioners are often adolescents. While acknowledging the legal right to choose one's life partner, the court underscored that the growing tendency of marriages among minors makes it difficult for them to develop a sense of responsibility at such a young age.
India Gazette
28-06-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
Uttarakhand panchayat elections to be held in two phases from July 24
Dehradun (Uttarakhand) [India], June 28 (ANI): The State Election Commission in Uttarakhand on Saturday issued a notification regarding the conduct of panchayat elections in 12 districts of the state, except Haridwar. The notification signed by Sushil Kumar, Uttarakhand State Election Commissioner, comes after the Nainital High Court on Friday permitted the continuation of the panchayat election process, lifting its earlier stay order issued on June 23. According to the notification, the three-tier panchayat elections will be held in two phases in the state. Voting under the first phase will take place on July 24, and voting under the second phase will take place on July 28. The counting of votes will be done on July 31. The dates for filing nomination papers for the panchayat elections are set from July 2 to July 5. The scrutiny of the nomination papers will be carried out from July 7 to July 9. The dates for withdrawing nominations are set from July 10 to July 11. 'Therefore, exercising the powers conferred in Article 243-K of the 'Constitution of India', I, Sushil Kumar, State Election Commissioner, Uttarakhand, hereby direct that the elections of members of all the Gram Panchayats, Pradhans of Gram Panchayats, members of Area Panchayats and members of District Panchayats of 12 (twelve) districts of Uttarakhand State (except District Haridwar) will be conducted...' the notification read. On Friday, after hearing the reservation roster and other documents presented by the government in the Nainital High Court, the division bench of Chief Justice G. Narendra and Justice Alok Mehra agreed to proceed with the process of panchayat elections. It must be noted that after the announcement of panchayat elections on June 21, on June 23, the High Court gave a big blow by staying the elections and seeking answers from the government on many points, including reservation. However, an important hearing was held in the Uttarakhand High Court on Friday regarding the much-awaited three-tier panchayat elections in Uttarakhand. While hearing the petitions filed by the petitioners, the court has given interim relief to the state government and allowed it to conduct the panchayat elections. During the hearing, the advocates on behalf of the state government informed the court that full preparations have been made for the panchayat elections and the legal process has been followed. At the same time, the petitioners raised some technical and constitutional issues. After hearing the arguments of both parties, the court refused to stay the elections for the time being and clarified that the election process can move forward. (ANI)
