Hyderabad: The Hyderabad High Court on Friday the paved way for the elections to the Pahadishareef gram panchayat in Ranga Reddy district by vacating the stay granted by a single judge on the notification issued by the State Election Commission.
A division bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Ramesh Ranganathan and Justice T. Rajani was dealing with an appeal by P. Naveen Kumar Yadav challenging an order of a single judge staying the notification issued by the SEC on June 23, 2017 to hold elections to the gram panchayat.
The single judge stayed the notification on a petition by the state government.
Avinash Desai, counsel for the appellant, submitted that the state government had on April 11, 2016 issued a GO de-notifying the gram panchayat and merging it with Jalpally municipality.
He submitted that the GO was suspended by the High Court and in view of suspension of the GO it was mandatory for the SEC to hold the election to the local body and consequently, the SEC issued the notification.
TS A-G K. Ramakrishna Reddy contended that there was no need of holding the election as the gram panchayat no longer existed as it was merged with the municipality.
Counsel for the appellant contended that in view of suspension of the GO on the merger by the High Court, it was mandatory as per the Constitution to hold elections to the local body after expiry of the term of the elected body.
While staying the single judge order, the bench directed the SEC to conduct elections as per the notification.
