Gujarat govt to contest the stay by HC on compulsory voting

Gandhinagar

The Gujarat government today asserted that it would properly put forth its points to contest the High Court stay on its notification regarding compulsory voting in the local body polls.

State government spokesperson and health minister Nitin Patel said,’ all the legal procedures were followed for the passage of the Gujarat Local Authorities (Amendment) Act 2009. The notification was issued in accordance. We had kept in mind all the legal aspects. The government would put forth its points strongly in the course of hearing.’

The reaction of the government has come following the stay on the notification today. The notification, which made Gujarat the first state in the country to have mandatory voting system, allowed the imposition of Rs. 100 fine on abstaining from voting without proper reason.

The High Court has stayed the efficacy of the notification till the completion of the hearing. The local body polls in the 253 municipalities, 208 taluka panchayats, 26 zila panchayats and six municipal corporations of the state are due to be held in September and October this year.

DeshGujarat