The conflict regarding the local body elections does not seem to die down. The enquiry is going on and the petition is still being heard in court. The Panchayat Raj secretary had filed a petition in court challenging the decision of the SEC to issue a notification to conduct elections in February. The high court has given an interim suggestion.
The High Court has directed the government to form a committee with three members and hold discussions. The committee should be formed with three officers of the level of chief secretary. If the committee is formed and informed to the Commission, it would decide about the date. The committee should explain to the EC about the reasons why the government could not take up elections and why they had approached the High Court. With the court’s directions, the government has got some reprieve.
The committee would deliberate with the EC and submit a report over the same to the government. However, all this process would definitely keep going on for a prolonged amount of time.
The advocate arguing on behalf of the Election Commission said that the government’s arguments were untrue. They said since the Centre has not finalized guidelines on vaccine distribution the elections can be held. Whereas the government states that taking up elections at a time when there are chances for the vaccine to be distributed, would invite danger. The Court ordered the government to tell the same to the EC.
