The Haryana State Election Commission today lifted the model code of conduct that came into force with the announcement of panchayat elections on September 8.
The Haryana Government, on its part, said it was not willing to compromise on the introduction of minimum educational qualification norms for candidates even as Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar expressed hope of convincing the SC on the issue. Under fire from the Opposition on the issue, Khattar said his government was confident of convincing the Supreme Court on the need to have minimum education norms for panchayat poll candidates.
Speaking on the sidelines of a function in New Delhi, Khattar justified his government’s decision to lay down the academic criteria. Only educated representatives could “ensure overall development of villages”, he said.
“The decision of the Supreme Court in this regard is the foremost, but the state government would present its case before it in the next hearing,” he said. Sources in the government said Haryana had become the second state after Rajasthan to introduce academic criteria for candidates. “There is a precedence. Rajasthan brought an ordinance prescribing minimum qualification for candidates and that was challenged in the court. The SC referred it to the HC that refused to grant a stay since the poll process was on. Meanwhile, the Assembly also passed an Act that was not challenged and the matter ended,” they said.
The Haryana Government, on its part, said it was not willing to compromise on the introduction of minimum educational qualification norms for candidates even as Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar expressed hope of convincing the SC on the issue. Under fire from the Opposition on the issue, Khattar said his government was confident of convincing the Supreme Court on the need to have minimum education norms for panchayat poll candidates.
Speaking on the sidelines of a function in New Delhi, Khattar justified his government’s decision to lay down the academic criteria. Only educated representatives could “ensure overall development of villages”, he said.
“The decision of the Supreme Court in this regard is the foremost, but the state government would present its case before it in the next hearing,” he said. Sources in the government said Haryana had become the second state after Rajasthan to introduce academic criteria for candidates. “There is a precedence. Rajasthan brought an ordinance prescribing minimum qualification for candidates and that was challenged in the court. The SC referred it to the HC that refused to grant a stay since the poll process was on. Meanwhile, the Assembly also passed an Act that was not challenged and the matter ended,” they said.
