No rural polls till final list of voters, says Hyderabad High Court

HYDERABAD: The Hyderabad High Court on Tuesday said that it would not issue any order to the Telangana government and the State Election Commission (SEC) to hold elections till the completion of enumeration of the Backward Classes voters. Justice MS Ramachandra Rao while dealing with a petition by Burukunta Satish, ZPTC Member of Ranga Reddy district and three others seeking to direct the state government and the SEC to hold elections to Panchayat Raj institutions, reminded that the Court in June this year had directed that elections would be held only after the completion of enumeration of BC voters and publishing of the figures and reservation of seats to the BCs.

Stating that he had issued the interim order, the judge questioned how he would issue directions for immediate elections which were contrary to the earlier order.
The counsel for the petitioners submitted that the SEC had constitutional obligation to hold elections of PR institutions soon after expiry of the term of the elected bodies. The state government too had released funds to hold elections in August 2017. He told the court that the state government had taken steps to appoint special officers to the PR institutions in view of the expiry of the term of the elected personnel.

The judge said that it was the discretion of the government to appoint special officers till elections were held and the court would not intervene in the matter. While issuing notices to the Chief Secretary, Principal Secretary of Panchayat Raj, Commissioner Panchayat Raj, Principal Secretary of General Administration and the State Election Commission, the judge adjourned the matter for three weeks.