___ vs Unknown on 19 January, 2015

::: 19th January 2015 HON'BLE THE ACTING CHIEF JUSTICE MR.SUNIL AMBWANI HON'BLE MISS JUSTICE JAISHREE THAKUR ___ By this writ petition, the petitioner has challenged the validity of the Ordinance No.2 of 2014 dated 20.12.2014 inserting disqualification clause in Section 19 of the Rajasthan Panchayati Raj Act, 1994, providing for minimum educational qualification for contesting elections to the Panchayati Raj Institutions. The petitioner has also prayed for setting aside election programme declared on 24.12.2014; the Notification for election issued on 03.01.2015 and has prayed for interim orders to stay the election process.

A batch of writ petitions challenging the same Ordinance, and praying for same reliefs were heard at Jaipur Bench of this Court, in which, the stay applications were rejected on 15.01.2015 on the ground that once election process has started, the Court does not ordinarily interfere with the elections in view of bar under Article 243-O(b) of the Constitution of India, which is also incorporated in Section 117 of the Rajasthan Panchayati Raj Act, 1994. The writ petitions at Jaipur Bench have been fixed for hearing on 02.03.2015.

In view of the aforesaid order and following the same reasons, the prayer for interim orders is rejected. Let reply be filed by the respondents within four weeks.

List for hearing on 09.