PIONEER NEWS SERVICE/ Dehradun
The leader of opposition (LoP) Yashpal Arya has said that the role of the election returning officers (RO) is very important in the three-tier Panchayat elections. He said that since most of the candidates in these elections are poor and have limited legal knowledge, it is imperative that the ROs and their assistants should have good knowledge of legal procedures in order to remain neutral.
In a letter written to the State Election Commissioner, the LoP said that it has come to his knowledge that junior officers have been deployed on the positions of ROs in most of the districts and many of them have not even completed their administrative training. He alleged that these junior level officers, under the pressure of the government, are taking decisions which are against the rules.
Citing examples, Arya said that the nomination paper of Narmta Singh was cancelled in the Kashipur block Panchayat seat of Udham Singh Nagar. The reason assigned for cancellation was the caste certificate of the maternal side of the candidate, however the returning officer was demanding a caste certificate of the in-laws of the candidate. Arya said that it is a common knowledge that in the case of the SC women, their caste is decided on the caste of the maternal side that it is based on the birth and not marriage.
Arya said that in Rudraprayag district, the candidature of an offender against whom summons of revenue collection of Rs 27 lakh were issued was accepted on the position of district Panchayat member. His candidature was accepted on the ground that the issue is sub-judice in the High Court even though evidence that the HC has not granted stay in the case were provided to the RO.
The LoP further claimed that in the Akhodi ward of district Panchayat Tehri, the RO cancelled nomination papers of seven candidates.
In his letter, the LoP said that similar complaints are coming from all parts of the State and it is necessary to ensure that the electoral officers don’t act in an arbitrary manner. He gave the order while chairing a review meeting with the secretaries on Monday.
In the meeting, the CS directed the secretaries to prepare a list of the major projects in the urban area in their departments which will either be inaugurated or their foundation stone will be laid soon.
He also asked the secretaries to prepare status reports of different subjects which are to be shared with the government of India.
