Sanyam Lodha to move Rajasthan HC over Panchayati Raj ward lottery delay, says postponement amounts to contempt

Jaipur, Aug 18 (IANS) Congress leader and former MLA Sanyam Lodha on Tuesday decided to file a contempt petition in the Rajasthan High Court over the postponement of the reservation lottery for Panchayati Raj institutions.

Lodha has issued legal notices alleging contempt of court to the Rajasthan Chief Secretary, State Election Commissioner, Additional Chief Secretary (ACS), Panchayati Raj, and Panchayati Raj Commissioner.

The move follows a High Court order on Lodha’s petition directing the state government and State Election Commission to complete the Panchayati Raj election process by November.

The court had also directed that the reservation lottery be completed and the election schedule announced by August 15.

The reservation lottery for the heads of 309 urban local bodies and their respective wards has already been completed.

The lottery for 41 Zila Pramukhs was also conducted.

The reservation lottery for Pradhans, Panchayat Samiti members, Zila Parishad members, Sarpanchs and ward Panchs was scheduled for August 17 and 18.

However, the state government postponed the process on the evening of August 16.

According to the revised schedule, the ward reservation lottery for Pradhans, Panchayat Samiti members and Zila Parishad members will be held on September 17, while the lottery for Sarpanchs and ward Panchs will take place on September 18.

Lodha said that government officials were present online when the High Court passed its earlier order.

He claimed that the schedule submitted before the court was prepared on the basis of a meeting chaired by the state Chief Secretary.

According to Lodha, relying on this schedule, the High Court directed that the entire lottery process be completed by August 15.

He said that he has now issued a contempt notice to the concerned officials.

He warned that if the lottery process is not completed immediately, he will approach the High Court with a contempt petition.

The postponement of the Panchayati Raj ward lottery has triggered a political dispute.

The Rajasthan government has cited issues related to OBC reservation and the ongoing Assembly session among the factors behind the revised schedule.

The lottery, originally scheduled for August 17 and 18, will now be conducted on September 17 and 18.

The delay has raised questions over the timeline for completing the Panchayati Raj election process within the deadline set by the High Court.

–IANS

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