'They Have To Be Given A Chance' : Supreme Court Dismisses Plea Challenging SC/ST Reservations In Punjab's Gram Panchayat Posts

The Supreme Court on Monday (December 2) dismissed the challenge to the reservation of seats for Scheduled Castes in Gram Panchayat elections in village in Ferozepur, Punjab.

The bench of CJI Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar was hearing a plea challenging the two circulars issued by the Deputy Commissioner of Ferozepur through which the seat of the sarpanch of the village as three wards were reserved for the Scheduled Castes/Tribes.

The Counsel contention that the concerned village house 98% of the general class population.

The CJI however explained that the present scenario is due to the rotation principle on the basis of which seats for the SCs are reserved in the gram panchayat elections.

The Counsel however stressed that only 5 people in the village out of 335 persons are from SC/ST.

To which the CJI replied, "But they have to be given a chance, or else how will they come up?"

The bench was also informed that though there are reservations made for the SCs this time, the last few terms, they went unrepresented. The writ petition was filed before the election results. The Court noted that now the limitation period would have lapsed for filing an election petition. The polling for the elections has taken place on October 15.

The bench also noted that the petition has not challenged any of the Election Rules and declined to entertain the plea further.

Notably, the Top Court on November 18, while refusing to interfere in pleas alleging irregularities in Punjab Gram Panchayat elections, directed the Election Tribunal to decide upon the election petitions within 6 months. The Court also allowed those petitioners whose nominations were rejected to file a review petition before the High Court to challenge the elections.

Case Details : JAGDISH CHANDER AND ANR. Versus THE STATE OF PUNJAB AND ORS.SLP(C) No. 28828/2024