By Our Staff Reporter
Nainital, 3 Mar: Several petitions challenging the 2024 reservation rotation rules for civic elections in Uttarakhand were heard by the Uttarakhand High Court here today.
In the case, a single bench of Justice Rakesh Thapliyal has directed the state government to file an affidavit within a week. Additionally, instructions have been issued to the government to inform all the winning candidates about this matter. The court has kept the option open for the winning candidates to present their side. The next hearing of the case has been fixed for 24 March.
It may be reminded here that the candidates for the posts of chairman and mayor in Almora Municipal Corporation, Dharchula Municipal Council, Guptkashi Nagar Panchayat, and Uttarkashi Municipal Council, respectively, had challenged the government’s 2024 reservation rules in the Nainital High Court before the civic elections. They argued that the state government does not have the right to make reservation rules and had further claimed that the 2024 reservation rules are not proper. Therefore, they had demanded that the reservation of the bodies be decided again.
The petitioners, through their counsel, had also argued that the government decided the reservation of bodies and Nagar Panchayats against the Constitution. The single bench however had not granted any interim order and had instead asked the government to present a reply. Against this, a special appeal was filed by them in the division bench, but this was also rejected.
After this order, Shobha Joshi, a resident of Almora, filed an appeal in the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court said in its order that the questions raised by the single bench are correct. Therefore, the single bench should hear this case soon.
Today, the case was heard, and the state government sought time from the court to present an affidavit. The court has given time to the government to present the affidavit and has fixed the date of 24 March for the next hearing.
