Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Jun 29: The issue of holding gram panchayat (GP) elections in the state now vests with the state high court. The state government as well as the state election commission have now riveted their eyes on what the high court will say in the matter.

The state government has taken the stand that the elections can be held only after the coronavirus situation in the state comes under control. The state election commission has said that it is ready to hold the election but everything depends on the high court decision.

Out of 6,025 gram panchayats in the state, preparations to hold elections for 5,800 GPs which will be completing their tenure between June and August, were on. On May 28, the state election commission put off the elections in view of the pandemic situation. Therefore, the state government had asked the deputy commissioners of the districts to appoint administrators to the panchayats. Anti Corruption Forum supported by MLC, K C Kondaiah and others, has approached the high court seeking a stay against the order to appoint administrative officers, and seeking a direction to the election commission to announce schedule for elections and abide by it. Some gram panchayat presidents and vice presidents too have petitioned the high court, asking to allow them to continue in office even after their term expires, because of the corona situation.

The officials now say that further steps will be taken depending on what the high court decides in the matter.

Principal secretary in the department of rural development and panchayat raj, L K Ateeq, has said that administrative officers have been appointed in order to see that there is no problem in the routine work of the gram panchayats whose terms have expired. He said that steps to hold elections would be taken once the coronavirus infection comes under control.