Latest news with #TelanganaPanchayatRajAct
New Indian Express
7 hours ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Local body polls unlikely in the next three months in Telangana
HYDERABAD: Local body elections in Telangana are unlikely to be held within the next three months, according to submissions made by the state government and the State Election Commission (SEC) before the Telangana High Court on Monday. During the hearing of a batch of six writ petitions seeking directions to conduct elections to local bodies where the term of elected representatives ended on January 31, 2024, Additional Advocate General (AAG) Md Imran Khan informed the court that the government requires 30 days to finalise and announce reservations for Backward Classes (BCs) in local bodies, as per Supreme Court directives. Senior counsel Sri Vidyasagar, representing the SEC, stated that elections would be held within 60 days of the completion of the BC reservation process by the government. The AAG's submission came in response to a query from Justice T Madhavi Devi, who sought to know by when the government intended to conduct elections to the gram panchayats. The petitions were filed by former sarpanches challenging the appointment of Special Officers to oversee gram panchayats after the expiry of their terms. Former sarpanches say delaying polls is illegal The former sarpanches argued that the move violates Articles 243E and 243K of the Constitution and provisions of 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. The former sarpanches also claimed that they had spent several lakhs from personal funds on developmental works in their respective villages on the assurance of reimbursement through the State Finance Commission. However, they alleged that these payments are still pending. The batch includes a writ petition filed by Thokkala Anil Kumar, former sarpanch of Talveda gram panchayat in Nirmal district, along with WP Nos. 2406, 2410, 2413, 2661, and 2665 of 2024. Following the submissions, Justice Madhavi Devi reserved her orders.
Time of India
11 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Telangana high court steps in: Panchayat polls on hold; sarpanches demand elections, oppose special officers
HYDERABAD: The Telangana high court, which heard a batch of petitions filed by sarpanches seeking timely conduct of elections to the gram panchayats, on Monday concluded its hearing and reserved its judgment The term of the sarpanches ended in Jan 2024. The sarpanches, opposing rule by special officers, are urging the court to direct the state to either conduct the polls or to continue them till the elections are conducted. Justice T Madhavi Devi, who heard the matter, sought to know from the state why it could not hand over the required statistics and information to the State Election Commission (SEC), which would conduct the polls. Arguing the case of the state, additional advocate general T Rajanikanth Reddy sought 25 days. Senior counsel G Vidya Sagar appeared for the SEC and said they need two months from the time the state furnishes them the details of voters, etc. Gummalla Bhaskar Reddy, the counsel for the petitioners, said that the term of the current sarpanches was ended on Jan 31, 2024. Though the state is under an obligation to conduct it within six months, it has not been done so far. The non-conduct of poll is violative of the Articles 243E and 243K of the Constitution, besides being contrary to the provisions of the Telangana Panchayat Raj Act, 2018, he said. The judge reserved her orders.
