Court Declares Sarpanch Election Invalid, Orders Repolling In Odisha’s Nuapada

Nuapada: A civil court has announced the election of a sarpanch in Odisha’s Nuapada district as invalid and ordered fresh election to the post.

As per the case, Shantilal Sabar of Dabripada village under Gandamer panchayat of Komna block in the district had filed a case in the court against election of Prahallad Sabar to sarpanch post in 2022.

Shantilal, a visually challenged person, stated in the petition that he had filed nomination papers for the election to the post as per the notification issued by the State Election Commission in January last year. But his nomination paper was rejected by Komna BDO, who was the election officer on the ground that Sabar was unable to read and write Odia. Prahallad was declared winner in the election.

Shantilal submitted to the court that he is literate and can read and write Odia. He had passed the High School Certificate Examination in correspondence course from the Board of Secondary Education, Orissa in 2003. Besides, being a visually impaired person, he was managing an NGO for people having similar physical handicap, he stated in the petition.

After hearing the petition, the Court of Civil Judge declared the election of Gandamer sarpanch invalid and announced it as casual vacancy. The court directed to send a copy of the judgment to Nuapada district collector for necessary action.