Govt instructions of reserve category of sarpanches

Chandigarh, June 6 (UNI) The Punjab Government today followed up Chief Minster Parkash Singh Badal's categorical declaration about not disturbing the status of reserved seats in the Panchayats elections, by issuing fresh orders on the election of the sarpanches with regard to the reservation of posts for scheduled castes and women panches.

Under the fresh instructions issued by the government, there will be no change allowed in a reserved panchayats where the post of a Sarpanch is reserved for Scheduled Caste (SC) woman and a SC woman panch refuses to contest elections. The post cannot be offered to another SC candidate or another woman candidate.

Similarly, there will be no change in status of a reserved seat even if someone belonging to SC sarpanch and a SC panch refuses to contest elections. These seats will remain strictly for reserved categories under all circumstances. Thirdly, in case the post of sarpanch is reserved for a woman panch and a woman panch refuses to contest elections, the post can not be declared open for all other panch candidates.

A circular had already been issued to all the Deputy Commissioner-cum-District Electoral Officer for strict compliance of these instructions.

UNI HS DB 1950