Kalahandi, YNN (Lingaraj Mishra): In a recent legal development, the Odisha High Court has temporarily halted the election for the position of Chairman of the Narla Panchayat Samiti in Kalahandi district. The decision followed a petition filed by Durga Prasad Mohanty, the current Vice-Chairman of the Panchayat Samiti.
Mr Mohanty, represented by Advocate Mr G. Agarwal, argued that the election notification issued on 12 August 2024 was improper. His principal concern was that an election to fill the vacant member seat of the Panchayat Samiti had not been conducted, yet the authorities had proceeded to schedule the Chairman’s election. According to Mr Mohanty, this action contravened established rules, as the Chairman should be elected from among the current members of the Panchayat Samiti, and proceeding without filling the vacant member seat was therefore unlawful.
The matter was heard by Justice B. P. Routray in a session conducted through the Hybrid mode. During the hearing, Advocate Mr S. Ghose appeared on behalf of the State Election Commission and other Opposite Parties.
The election for the Chairman’s position was scheduled to be held tomorrow. However, after considering the arguments presented, the court issued a notice to the State Election Commission and other concerned parties, directing them to respond. Furthermore, the court ordered that the election for the Chairman’s position should not be conducted until 17 September 2024, the next scheduled hearing date.
This order grants temporary relief to the petitioner, ensuring that the election process remains on hold until the court can further deliberate on the matter.
The case is set to be reviewed again on 17 September 2024, when the court will decide on the next steps based on the responses and further arguments.
For now, the election for the Chairman of the Narla Panchayat Samiti remains suspended, awaiting the court’s final decision.
