Ex-Jharkhand MP moves SC over Panchayat polls

New Delhi, Nov 21 (UNI) Salkhan Murmu, former Jharkhand MP, today filed a Public Interest Litigation in the Supreme Court for holding the Panchayat elections last held in 1978.

Several Special Leave Petitions have been filed before the apex court since Jharkhand High Court declared on September 02, 2005 unconstitutional, the state government's notification beginning the process of panchayat polls.

The PIL mentioned that Jharkhand had the dubious distinction of being the only state yet to elect a panchayat body.

Meanwhile, it is the only state under PESA Act still to hold elections, depriving the state population of central assistance to the tune of Rs 2500 crores annually.

The counsel submitted that the denial was violative of such fundamental rights as right to equality and right to freedom of expression.

Besides, depriving people of the right to exercise their franchise at grassroot level for ages it violated the principle of natural justice as laid down in MC Mehta Vs Union of India in 1999, the counsel said.

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