SEC directive on polls to 3 panchayats

Justice Ramesh Ranganathan of the High Court on Wednesday directed the State government and State Election Commission (SEC) to conduct elections to the three gram panchayats around Hyderabad.

The judge was allowing the writ petitions filed by the villagers of Kotwalguda, Satamrai and Gundlapochampally. They contended that the proposals to merge these panchyats with the GHMC was dropped but they did not have elected bodies. The judge said that the elections to the gram panchyats should be conducted by May 5.