New Delhi, Sept 17: Supreme Court has reversed the order passed by the BJP-led Haryana government issuing minimum education qualification for candidates in the upcoming Panchayat elections.
According to the ordinance issued by Haryana assembly, a minimum qualification of class 10th pass is mandatory for general candidates. Whereas, for dalits and women, the minimum of class 8th clearance is compulsory for filing candidature. (ALSO READ: Haryana to award panchayats elected unanimously)
All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA), the women-wing of Communist Party of India (Marxist) filed a Public Interest Litigation in the Supreme Court, alleging that such a resolution by the Haryana state government is undemocratic as it will debar a major section of poor and disadvantaged from aspiring to be a member of the local bodies.
“Matter of great pleasure for all of us that Supreme Court has stayed the amendment made by Haryana government which was anti-constitutional,” said Jagmati Sangwan, president of AIDWA.
Apart from imposing limits on the basis of education, the ordinance issued by the Manohar Lal Khattar-government also excluded those from contesting the panchayat elections who do not use a pucca house, have pending electricity bills and haven’t constructed a toilet inside their house.
The local body polls are scheduled to be held in three phases on October 4, 11 and 18.
Source:
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