Tribune News Service

Saurabh Malik

Chandigarh, August 31

Just a few fortnight after its resolution to dissolve gram panchayats in Punjab got here beneath the judicial scanner, the federal government on Thursday introduced its resolution to withdraw the notification.

Appearing earlier than the Bench headed by Chief Justice Ravi Shanker Jha, Punjab Advocate-General Vinod Ghai submitted that the notification could be withdrawn within the subsequent couple of days.

The authorities, in the course of the listening to of a associated matter, had earlier defended the choice.

It had, amongst different issues, acknowledged that the notification on dissolving gram panchayats was in accordance with constitutional provision.

In an affidavit, Director of Rural Development and Panchayat Gurpreet Singh Khaira acknowledged that the state authorities had the facility to direct the holding of elections for Panchayati Raj Institutions beneath Section 209 of the Punjab Panchayati Raj Act, 1994.

The notification, issued in accordance with the statutory provisions, declared the elections for panchayat samitis and zila parishads by November 25 and gram panchayats by December 31. The affidavit added the State Election Commission required time to organize for elections, together with varied associated actions reminiscent of revising electoral rolls, organising polling cubicles, coordinating with legislation enforcement, and different important preparations.

The Bench was additionally advised that an election to represent a panchayat must be accomplished earlier than the expiry of its length and “before the expiration of a period of six months from the date of its dissolution”. As such, “the notification dated August 10 has been issued strictly in accordance with the constitutional provision. The term of gram panchayats has been taken from date of its first meeting –– January 10, 2019, and these have been dissolved on August 10 within six months before the expiry of term”.