The State Election Commission today announced by election in the State to fill up vacant posts in the Panchayat Raj bodies. A spokesperson of the State Election Commission Himachal Pradesh informed today that the State Election Commission has decided to organize by-elections of Panchayati Raj institutions to fill up the vacant posts of the Panchayati Raj institutions. He said that at present 90 posts are vacant in the Panchayati Raj Institutions out of which nine posts of Pradhan, three posts of Up-Pradhans and approximately 78 posts of Panchayat Committee and Gram Panchayat members are vacant.
He said that Commission would release the scheduled program and notice of by-election on 15th November, 2016. The nomination would be filed on 25th, 26th and 28th November, 2016 from 1100hrs. to 1500 hrs. Review of nomination would be done on 29th November, 2016. The nomination can be withdrawn on 1st December, 2016 and if necessary, elections would be held on 11th December, 2016 from 0700hrs to 1500 hrs.
He said that the counting of the votes for Pradhans, Up- Pradhans and members would be done immediately after the completion of polling, whereas the counting of the votes of Panchayat committees would be done on 12th December, 2016. He said that the Code of Conduct has been effective in the Panchayats where by-elections have been scheduled. He said that the electoral rolls updated on the basis of qualifying date 1stJanuary, 2016 would be used during these by-elections.
Those who completed 18 years of age on 1st January, 2016 could get themselves registered into electoral rolls upto nine days prior to the last date of submission of nominations, for which he or she has to apply in the office of concerned District Election Officer (Panchayat), he added. Similarly, any rectification in the name or entry could also be done free of cost.
