Poll panel issues guidelines on no-trust motion against civic body chiefs

The Haryana State Election Commission has clarified that the secret voting process will be completed only with the use of ballot box if a no-confidence motion is brought against the chairman and vice-chairman of panchayat samitis and chairman and vice-chairman of zila parishads in the state.

An official spokesperson said if any elected representative of a panchayat samiti or zila parishad submitted a notice for a no-confidence motion, all elected members would be informed through registered post. Additionally, the notice might be delivered via WhatsApp to the member’s registered mobile number, or in person.

Apart from this, information would be displayed on the notice board of the Block Development and Panchayat Officer concerned, besides SDM and DC offices. The meeting would be convened within 10 days after the issuance of the notice.

The authority concerned would announce the position against which the no-confidence motion had been brought and a designated secret voting slip would be issued to each member present. Before the voting, the returning officer and presiding officer would explain the voting procedure to the members.

Immediately after the completion of voting, the authority concerned would open the ballot box in the presence of the members for counting. A no-confidence motion against the chairman and vice-chairman of the panchayat samitis could be brought under Section 62 of the Haryana Panchayati Raj Act, 1994, and against the president and vice-president of the zila parishads under Section 123.