The Supreme Court has ordered the state election commission to conduct the elections in five Zilla Parishad including Nagpur, Akola, Washim, Dhule and Nandurbar and the Panchyat Samitis in these districts within one month. In its verdict the apex court bench comprising Justice Ajay Khanvilkar and Justice Dinesh Maheshwari also lauded the state government for appointing administrators on the ZPs.
The tenure of these ZPs has already ended, but due to the interim orders issued by Nagpur bench of Bombay High Court elections of the ZPs and the Panchyat Samitis (PS) were put on hold. On July 10 when this fact was brought to the notice of the apex court, it strongly criticized the state government. As per the provisions of Constitution of India, the elections of the ZPs and PS must be completed before the end of their tenure. For any reasons the elections cannot be postponed. After the end of the tenure, administration must be appointed on the ZPs and PS, the court opined. After this criticism, the state government on July 18 appointed administrators. Meanwhile on Friday, the SC heard the petition and cleared the way for election.
Petitions challenging the validity of the section 12 (2) (C) of the Maharashtra Zilla Parishad and Panchyat Samiti Act and challenging the elections of Nagpur, Akola and Washim ZPs are pending before the Nagpur bench of Bombay High Court. As per this section 27 percent reservation is given to OBC due to which the reservation in ZPs and PS reached to 50 percent. The petitioner alleged that the reservation provision is against the Article 243-D, 243-T and 14th and against the decision given by SC in K Krishmurthi and other versus unon government and other. Taking note of the contentions the HC bench stayed the election process. After which the state election commission stayed the election of Dhule and Nandurbar ZP.
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