Setback to govt as HC puts a rider on gram panchayat polls

​Hyderabad: The High Court at Hyderabad has directed the Telangana government to complete all requirements as per law before deciding on conducting gram panchayat elections in the state. It suggested that enumeration of BC population and voters must be done first. This must be made public and objections sought and only after that a decision be taken about conducting panchayat elections.

Justice MS Ramachandra Rao gave this direction on Tuesday while hearing a writ petition filed by Congress leaders, B Ravindranath and Dasoju Sravan Kumar, seeking a direction to the government to conduct panchayat elections only after enumeration of BC population as the figures relating to that were not proper.

The counsel for the petitioners submitted to the court that the state government was attempting to conduct panchayat elections without enumerating BC population. As per Section 17(4) of Panchayat Raj Act, it is the responsibility of the state government to provide reservation to BCs in panchayats. But in the case of Telangana the figures relating to BC population are improper. While the government announced that the BC population in the state was 34 per cent, in the Comprehensive Family Survey conducted by the government, it was stated as 54 per cent. There is a need to enumerate BC population using scientific methods and only then can the elections be held.

Telangana Additional Advocate General J Ramachandra Rao informed the judge that enumeration of BC population has been done and the statistics are with State Directorate of Economics and Statistics. The judge asked him that as per law, such enumeration must be done by BC Finance Corporation and why did Directorate do it. When the AAG sought time to file counter affidavit with details, the judge posed a question as to what will happen if in the meantime notification is issued for conducting the polls. 

The AAG conceded that the government is ready to conduct the polls if the Election Commission issues notification. The judge made it clear that without completing BC enumeration and putting out the details in the open and seeking objections, elections cannot be held. He adjourned the case by four weeks.