(a) whether all the States have held local body/panchayat elections in their respective
States, according to the statutory/constitutional requirements;
(b) if not, the names of States where the local body elections have not been held so
far;
(c) the steps taken by the Government to urge the States to hold the local body
elections; and
(d) the assistance being provided by the Union Government to the States for holding
local body elections within the prescribed time limit?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PANCHAYATI RAJ ( SHRI MANI SHANKAR AIYAR )
(a) & (b): Timely elections are being held in almost all the States. However, in
Jharkhand elections are pending as the matter relating to reservation of posts is sub judice.
(c) & (d): The Union of India has since filed an SLP in the Supreme Court of India (CC
No. 12459/2005) seeking to quash the judgment of the Hon`ble High Court of Jharkhand.
The Chief Secretary to the Government of Jharkhand, Secretary, Rural Development,
Government of Jharkhand and the Election Commission, Government of Jharkhand are
proforma Respondents in this matter.
The Minister of Panchayati Raj has also written to the
Chief Minister Jharkhand for holding elections in the State at the earliest as per the
Constitutional provisions and the provisions of PESA. The Union of India has also requested
Additional Solicitor General to make a special mention in the Supreme Court of India for an
early hearing of the case. An Interim Application has also been filed before the Hon`ble
Supreme Court for an early hearing.