HC stays Jat Education Society elections

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 30

The Punjab and Haryana High Court today stayed the Jat Education Society elections proposed to be held on July 10. The direction by Justice M. Jeyapaul came on a petition filed by Krishan against Haryana and other respondents

The petitioners were seeking a direction to the state and other respondents to issue identity cards to all members of Jat Education Society’s electoral college in terms of the society bylaws.

The court was informed that the petitioner was also aggrieved as the election was proposed to be held without giving a 45-day gap between the publication of the voters’ list and the date of election.

Senior counsel appearing for the writ petitioner submitted that the society had issued identity cards to only about 900-1000 members out of the total 15,445. As per the society bylaws, the members could not cast their votes unless they were armed with identity cards.

The court was also told that the demarcation of the wards on geographical lines had been finalised only on June 15. But the election date was fixed without giving a gap of 45 days. “In view of the above, there shall be an order of stay on the elections proposed on July 10,” Justice M. Jeyapaul concluded.

The educational society, registered under the Societies Regulation Act, was formed in 1914 under the name of Jat Anglo Sanskrit High School, Rohtak, to serve the cause of education.