Amendment to Odisha Zilla Parishad Election Rules quashed

Bhubaneswar, March 30 (IANS) The Orissa High Court on Thursday quashed the state government's amendment to Rule 51 of Odisha Zilla Parishad Election Rules of 1994.

Hearing a petition filed by a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Zilla Parishad member, the court termed that any change to existing rules during the panchayat poll process is unconstitutional.

"The court scrapped the amendment to the rule terming it as illegal and unconstitutional. It acknowledged that the amendment was in contravention of Section 51 (1) of the Odisha Zilla Parishad Act," said Ashok Mohapatra, counsel for the petitioner.

However, the court has made no observation on the validity of the elections held to the posts of chairpersons and vice chairpersons of Zilla Parishads conducted after the notification pertaining to the amendment.

The government's amendment to the rule allowed an authorised agent of each political party to verify the ballot papers of his/her party members before they cast their votes.

A notification was issued in this regard by the Panchayati Raj Department on March 8, 2017.

Leader of Opposition Narasingh Mishra said the high court's verdict showed the state government did not want an impartial Zilla Parishad election.

Congress chief whip Taraprasad Harichandan demanded re-election to the chairperson and vice-chairperson posts in the state.

However, the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) said it may move the Supreme Court challenging the order after analysing it.

"We will analyse the court order. If needed we may appeal for a review in the High Court or move the apex court," said BJD MLA Dibya Shankar Mishra.

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