Punjab announces fresh schedule for remaining panchayat polls
The State Election Commission, Punjab today announced to hold the general elections of all such remaining Gram Panchayats on Sunday 22nd June, 2008 where the polls were earlier postponed or countermanded.
Disclosing this here today a spokesman of the State Election Commission, Punjab said that the general elections to Gram Panchayats in the State were held on 26.5.2008. The general elections to some erstwhile Gram Panchayats, which have been split into two or more new Gram Panchayats on or after 11.4.2008, were postponed and election to various Gram Panchayats had also been countermanded by the State Election Commission on representations from public or by the District Electoral Officers-cum-Deputy Commissioners or their representatives pursuant to the directions given by the Hon’ble Punjab & Haryana High Court.
He further added that in pursuance of the provisions contained in Section 35 of the Punjab State Election Commission Act, 1994 (Punjab Act No.19 of 1994), the State Election Commission has appointed the following dates with respect to the election of those Gram Panchayats where the polls were earlier postponed or countermanded, with 9th June, 2008 as the first day of filing nominations.
ELECTION PROGRAMME
(a) 12th June, 2008 (Thursday) as the last date for making nominations;
(b) 13th June, 2008 (Friday) as the date for the Scrutiny of nominations;
(c) 14th June, 2008 (Saturday) as the last date for withdrawal of candidatures;
(d) 22nd June, 2008 (Sunday) as the date on which a poll shall, if necessary be taken and;
(e) 24th June, 2008 (Tuesday) as the date by which the election shall be completed.
Note: 14th June, 2008, is not a holiday under Section 25 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881, as such the withdrawal of Nominations will take place on that date.
In pursuance of the provisions of Section 57 of the Punjab State Election Commission Act, 1994 (Punjab Act No.19 of 1994), the Election Commission has fixed the poll hours from 8.00 AM to 4.00 PM during the polls on 22nd June, 2008 to conduct the general elections of the members of Gram Panchayats in the state.
The State Election Commission has also directed to all the District Magistrates in the State to declare ‘ Dry Day’ on 22.6.2008 in the respective areas of districts in pursuance of the general elections in some of the Gram Panchayats which were to be held on 22.6.2008.