Ordinance for Uttarakhand civic elections stuck in Raj Bhavan… but Supreme Court order is also an option for elections

The ordinance regarding OBC reservation in 102 municipal bodies of the state is still stuck in the Raj Bhavan. Out of the two, the Raj Bhavan has approved only the ordinance for slums. Here, the government also has the option of making the Supreme Court order the basis for the civic elections. The picture is likely to become clear this week.

After approval from the cabinet, the government had sent the ordinance regarding changes in OBC reservation in slums and bodies to the Raj Bhavan. On Tuesday, the ordinance for slums got approval, but the ordinance to change OBC reservation is stuck in the Raj Bhavan. It is discussed that the Raj Bhavan is deliberating on it due to the problem of the Select Committee. There is also a possibility that the Raj Bhavan may return it.

Even in the event of the ordinance not getting approval from the Raj Bhavan, the government has the option of holding civic elections. In the order of the Supreme Court in 2021, the state has the option of giving OBC reservation by implementing the report of a single-member dedicated commission in the bodies. Under this option, the government only has to approve the OBC reservation rules, after which the election process will move forward.

These arrangements in the Supreme Court order
The Supreme Court had also given its verdict on the writ petition of Maharashtra on March 4, 2021, and Suresh Mahajan vs State of Madhya Pradesh writ petition on May 10, 2022. On the basis of both these petitions, it was decided that the states would form a single-member dedicated commission to determine the reservation according to the population of the OBC category. On the basis of the report of this commission, OBC reservation will be implemented in the bodies. On the basis of which elections will be held.