Jaipur, July 17 (IANS) The Rajasthan State Election Commission (SEC) has informed the Rajasthan High Court that it is fully prepared to conduct the long‑pending Panchayati Raj and Urban Local Body elections and can announce the poll schedule within two days, provided the state government finalises and notifies the reservation of seats.
During the hearing of a contempt petition on Thursday, State Election Commissioner Rajeshwar Singh, appearing via video conferencing, told the court that the delay was caused by the government’s failure to complete the reservation process for Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), Other Backward Classes (OBC), and women.
The Election Commissioner informed the court that while the Commission has completed all election‑related preparations, including updating voter lists and arranging Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), it cannot notify elections until reservations for wards and chairperson posts are finalised.
“The State Election Commission is fully prepared. Voter lists have been updated, EVMs have been arranged from other states, and all logistical preparations have been completed. However, the reservation of wards and offices remains pending, and that responsibility lies with the Panchayati Raj Department and the Department of Local Self‑Government,” Singh submitted.
He further stated that the Commission had written six letters, three each to the Panchayati Raj Department and the Local Self‑Government Department, requesting completion of the reservation process. According to the Election Commissioner, the departments informed the Commission that the OBC Commission is expected to submit its report by August 14, following which the reservation lottery would be conducted.
The reservation process for SC, ST, OBC and women is proposed to be completed by August 21. Singh told the court that without the reservation details, it would be impossible to notify elections because the Commission would not know which categories of candidates could contest from which wards. He added that although the High Court had earlier observed that elections could proceed even without the OBC Commission’s report, the state government must still determine reservations for SC, ST and women.
“If the government provides the reservation details, we are ready to announce the elections within two days,” Singh said.
The High Court expressed dissatisfaction over the continued delay in conducting elections while hearing the contempt petition filed by former MLA Sanyam Lodha, who alleged non‑compliance with the court’s earlier direction to complete elections by July 31.
The Bench questioned why the OBC Commission’s report was now expected only by August 14, despite the court’s earlier timeline. The court observed that when the matter is heard again on July 20, it expects the schedule for the reservation lottery, the election notification, and the OBC Commission’s report to fall within July rather than August.
During the hearing, the court also remarked that if the State Election Commission was unable to conduct the elections, it could consider appointing a retired judge to oversee the process.
The matter will next be heard on July 20, when the government, the Election Commission, and the OBC Commission are expected to clarify the timelines for completing the reservation process and announcing the elections.
–IANS
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