The Orissa High Court on Friday took up a petition filed by a BJP Zilla Parishad member challenging the State government’s recent amendment to the Odisha Zilla Parishad Election Rules of 1994.
A Division Bench headed by Chief Justice Vineet Saran, however, after preliminary hearings adjourned the matter. Itwill be heard again on March 15.
Advocate-General S. P. Mishra opposed the petition saying the amendment was made to ensure transparency and prevent cross-voting in the elections for the posts of presidents and vice-presidents of Zilla Parishads.
Sukhlal Munda, an elected ZP member of Sundargarh, had approached the High Court challenging the Wednesday’s amendment brought in by the Panchati Raj Department stating that amendments cannot be made midway when the process of elections had already begun.
New clause
The new clause, which has been incorporated in the Rules, provides for appointment of agents by every political party and the election officer will allow the authorised agents to verify the vote cast by the elected member of their respective parties as is being done during Rajya Sabha elections.
The Bharatiya Janata Party had earlier alleged that the amendment was brought in a hurry as the ruling BJD was apprehensive that its elected Zilla Parishad members may not vote for the party nominees for the posts of presidents and vice-presidents of the district councils.
