The Nainital High Court has put a temporary halt on the upcoming three-tier panchayat elections in Uttarakhand, citing irregularities in the government’s new reservation policy.

The decision follows a challenge to a government order issued on June 11, which declared all previous reservation rotations null and proposed implementing a fresh rotation starting this year, reported Amar Ujala.

The petitioners, including Bageshwar resident Ganesh Datt Kandpal, argued that the new policy violates prior High Court guidelines and unfairly reserves certain seats for the same category for a fourth consecutive term.

They claimed this move bars eligible candidates from contesting the elections and undermines democratic fairness.

The state government defended its decision, stating that similar petitions were already under review by a single-judge bench. However, the petitioners’ counsel pointed out that their challenge also included the revised election rules issued on June 9, which they filed before a division bench comprising Chief Justice R. Narender and Justice Alok Mehra.

Unconvinced by the government’s explanation, the High Court stayed the election process, which had already been set in motion by the State Election Commission. The nomination process was scheduled to begin on June 25, and the Model Code of Conduct was already in effect.

This stay puts the election process on hold and raises questions about the legality of the new reservation policy. The court has sought further clarification from the government, leaving the future of the elections uncertain for now.

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Image via https://highcourtofuttarakhand.gov.in/