Path Clear for Panchayati Raj Elections in Himachal as Government Withdraws Disaster Management Orders
The path for Panchayati Raj institution elections in Himachal Pradesh has been cleared after the state government withdrew the orders issued under the Disaster Management Act. According to the Disaster Management Cell of the Revenue Department, connectivity across the state has improved significantly, prompting the government to revoke the orders after nearly six months.
Following this decision, preparations for the Panchayati Raj elections in the state have intensified. The state government has issued detailed guidelines to all Deputy Commissioners regarding the roster determination process. As per the schedule, the roster determination work will begin in districts from March 20 and will be finalized by March 30.
Deputy Commissioners will release the final roster for Panchayati Raj institutions in their respective districts on March 31. The government has clarified that reservation in newly formed panchayats and those affected by delimitation will be determined as per established rules. Population data along with the proportion of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and women will serve as the basis for reservation allocation.
Authorities have been instructed to complete the entire process in a transparent and time-bound manner. The state government has already issued a notification for the formation of 84 new panchayats. The creation of these new panchayats has led to changes in the boundaries of several existing panchayats, making the roster determination process even more significant.
It is noteworthy that the Supreme Court has directed the state to complete Panchayati Raj elections before May 31. Following the court’s directive, the state government and the State Election Commission have accelerated election preparations. Once the roster is finalized, the announcement of the election schedule will become possible. The formal notification for the election process is expected to be issued by mid-April.
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