Overview
- The State Election Commission kept its September 29 rural local body poll notification in abeyance and suspended the Model Code of Conduct, nominations and all related proceedings until further orders.
- A division bench led by Chief Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh stayed both the government order on 42% BC reservation and the election notification, directing detailed counter affidavits within four weeks and adjourning the matter for six weeks.
- Earlier on Thursday, district collectors issued notices and returning officers began accepting nominations, but the SEC halted the process after the High Court’s order.
- Before the stay took effect, the Commission recorded 16 ZPTC and 103 MPTC nominations for the first phase, all of which are now on hold pending further court directions.
- The suspended plan covered five phases with ZPTC/MPTC polling slated for October 23 and 27 and gram panchayat voting in three phases in late October and early November across 565 ZPTCs, 5,749 MPTCs, 12,733 gram panchayats and about 1.12 lakh wards, with more than 1.67 crore eligible voters.