Uttarakhand HC takes up PIL seeking two-child norm for panchayat elections

DEHRADUN: The Uttarakhand high court has admitted a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking disqualification of candidates having more than two children from contesting panchayat elections. The elections are due to start from next month in the state.

Although the two-child norm is mandatory for conducting municipal elections in the state, no such condition exists as far as panchayat elections are concerned. In his PIL, Kasturva Nand Pandey, an advocate, referred to an amendment in the Uttar Pradesh Municipalities Act that the Uttarakhand government had reportedly made in 2002. The amendment bars a person having more than two children from contesting any municipal election in the state. In his petition, Pandey has requested for a similar amendment in the existing Uttarakhand Panchayat Act.

Acting on the petition, HC vacation judge, Justice U C Dhyani on Tuesday issued notices to the state government, asking its reply in the matter soon. The next court hearing is scheduled for February 12.

Panchayat polls in Uttarakhand will be held in three different phases, beginning March 8. As per officials, a total of 46,27,226 voters will exercise their franchise to elect 7,705 village heads, 3,280 block panchayat members and 408 district panchayat members.