Nainital High Court has pulled up the Election Commission, questioning what action has been taken against the five district panchayat members who failed to cast their votes without providing any valid reason. The bench of Chief Justice G. Narendar and Justice Subhash Upreti raised this query during the hearing on the Nainital Zila Panchayat chairperson and vice-chairperson election case.
Earlier, the court had directed the submission of the Uttar Pradesh Zila Panchayat Adhyaksh, Upadhyaksh Nirvachan Evam Vivad Nivaran Niyamawali 1994 handbook. During the hearing, the counsel for the Election Commission informed that two reports from the observer were submitted, stating that no violence or disturbance occurred within a 100-meter radius of the polling site. Based on these reports, the Commission had asked the Nainital District Election Officer (DM) to resolve the matter at the local level. The SSP also sent a detailed report to the DM on August 15.
However, the petitioner’s counsel argued that rules mandate strict enforcement within a one-kilometer radius, while the counsel for newly elected Zila Panchayat Chairperson Deepa Darmwal stated that the observer confirmed a 500-meter radius was clear.
District Magistrate Vandana appeared virtually and informed the court that she forwarded the SSP’s status report to the Election Commission on the same day of polling. The High Court has now asked the Election Commission to clarify what instructions were issued to officials on polling day and what action was taken. The court directed the Commission to submit its response with an affidavit by Monday.
