Punjab Government reverses decision on Gram Panchayat dissolution following legal challenge

The Punjab government has informed the Punjab and Haryana High Court about its decision to withdraw the notification that dissolved all gram panchayats in the state. This announcement came during a hearing of a petition filed by Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Gurjeet Singh Talwandi, who had challenged the government's earlier notification issued on August 10.

Withdrawal of notification

Punjab's Advocate General (AG), Vinod Ghai, presented the government's stance before Chief Justice Ravi Shanker Jha and Justice Arun Palli of the Punjab and Haryana High Court. The AG confirmed that the contentious notification would be withdrawn within two days. However, it was emphasized that the scheduled elections would proceed as planned, according to Vikas Mohan Gupta, the additional advocate general of Punjab.

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Background on dissolution notification

The Punjab government's August 10 notification had dissolved all gram panchayats, panchayat samitis, and zila parishads in the state. The notification outlined the timeline for elections, with members of panchayat samitis and zila parishads expected to be elected by November 25, and those of gram panchayats by December 31.

Significance and numbers

Punjab houses a total of 13,241 gram panchayats, 152 block samitis, and 22 zila parishads. The term for gram panchayats began on January 10, 2019, and they were dissolved on August 10, six months before their term expiration.

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Legal perspective

The state government contended that it had the constitutional authority and obligation to conduct elections for Panchayati Raj Institutions, as per Section 209 of the Punjab Panchayati Raj Act, 1994. It argued that elections for a panchayat should occur before its tenure ends or within six months following its dissolution, aligning with constitutional provisions.