Latest news with #T.MadhaviDevi
The Hindu
11 hours ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Hold polls to local bodies within three months: Telangana HC to government, SEC
Telangana High Court on Wednesday (June 25, 2025) directed the State government to conduct elections to local bodies within three months. Justice T. Madhavi Devi, pronouncing verdict in a batch of writ petitions filed by former sarpanches of six different village panchayats of the State, instructed the government to prepare the lists of voters and reservations for different categories like women and Backward Classes within a month from the date of receiving the judgement copy. The judge also directed the State Election Commission (SEC) to convene the polls to local bodies within two months of receiving all the details pertaining to voters list and reservations. The six sarpanches, whose terms expired towards the end of 2024, moved the High Court by way of writ petitions seeking a direction to hold elections to the village panchayats (rural local bodies) since their terms ended. They contended that government appointed special officers in the place of sarpanches to perform duties relating to administrative and financial duties as their terms expired. This appointment of special officers was against the provisions of Panchayat Raj Act, they argued. They wanted the High Court either to extend their term or conduct the elections to local bodies immediately.
NDTV
11 hours ago
- Politics
- NDTV
High Court Asks Telangana To Hold Local Body Polls In 3 Months
Hyderabad: The Telangana High Court on Wednesday directed the state government to conduct local body elections in three months. Justice T. Madhavi Devi pronounced the orders on a batch of petitions over the delay in conducting the gram panchayat polls. The court directed the state government and the State Election Commission (SEC) to hold the polls by September 30. It did not agree with the arguments that they needed more time to start the election process. The judge told them to complete divisions of wards in 30 days and the process of elections by September 30. Former sarpanches had filed petitions, seeking the conduct of elections without delay. They pointed out that the terms of the panchayats expired on January 31, 2024, and the elections were already delayed by 18 months. On Monday, Justice Madhavi Devi had reserved orders on six petitions filed by former sarpanches and the same were pronounced on Wednesday. While reserving the orders, the single-judge bench reminded the state government that it had earlier assured the High Court that it would convene elections to local bodies by February 2025. Additional Advocate General Imran Khan had submitted to the court that the state government would require a month to declare reservations for backward classes in local bodies. The court was informed that authorities were ensuring that the reservations to be announced for BCs would strictly be in compliance with the directions of the Supreme Court. Appearing for the State Election Commission, senior counsel Vidyasagar had informed the bench that the Commission would hold elections to local bodies within 60 days of the government announcing reservations. The petitioners requested that the bench extend their terms or conduct elections to the village panchayats immediately. They contended that the government appointed special officers in their places following the expiry of their terms. They argued that the appointment of special officers was against Articles 243E and 243K of the Constitution, they argued. This also contravenes the Telangana Panchayat Raj Act-2018. The petitioners contended that local body elections must be held within six months of the expiry of the elected body's term, as mandated by the Constitution. They submitted to the court that the state government in October last year had given an undertaking that the elections would be conducted by February 25, but it failed to fulfil it. The former sarpanches also told the bench that they had spent money from their pockets for developmental works in their respective villages and sought reimbursement of their amount. Meanwhile, former sarpanches have welcomed the court order. They said the governance in rural areas has come to a halt due to a lack of public representatives like ward members and sarpanches.
Hans India
12 hours ago
- Politics
- Hans India
Telangana High Court Orders Local Body Elections Within Three Months
In a significant ruling on Wednesday, the High Court of Telangana mandated the state government and the State Election Commission to conduct Gram Panchayat elections within the next three months. The verdict was delivered by Justice T. Madhavi Devi, following the conclusion of arguments on six petitions concerning the local body elections, which were reserved for judgement on Monday. The court's decision underscores the urgency of facilitating democratic processes at the grassroots level. This ruling prompts the state authorities to prepare for the upcoming elections, aiming to enhance local governance and representation in the region.
The Hindu
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
HC reserves orders in pleas over local bodies' elections
Justice T. Madhavi Devi of the Telangana High Court on Monday reserved orders in a batch of writ petitions of former sarpanches of village panchayats seeking a direction to State government to conduct elections to local bodies. While reserving the orders, the judge reminded Additional Advocate General Mohd. Imran Khan that the State government had earlier assured the HC that it would convene elections to local bodies by February 2025. Responding to the query from the bench, the AAG said the State government would require a month to declare reservations for backward classes in local bodies. The authorities were ensuring that the reservations to be announced for BCCs would strictly be in compliance with the directions of the Supreme Court. Senior counsel Vidyasagar, appearing for the State Election Commission, informed the bench that the Commission would hold elections to local bodies within 60 days of the government announcing reservations. The six petitioners, who were sarpanches and whose terms expired by January 1, 2024, requested the bench to extend their terms or conduct elections to the village panchayats immediately. They contended that the government appointed special officers in their places following the expiry of their terms. Appointing special officers was against Articles 243E and 243K of the Constitution, they argued. The rule of special officers was also in contravention of the Telangana Panchayat Raj Act-2018. They told the bench that they had spent money from their pockets for different developmental and infrastructural works in their respective villages. The government was obligated to reimburse the money they had spent, the petitioners said.
