HC orders status quo after ZP chief challenges no-confidence motion

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has ordered status quo as of November 19, after chairperson of Zila Parishad Ambala Rajesh Kumar Laddi approached the court requesting quashing of the proceedings and order on the resolution of no-confidence motion passed against him.

Rajesh Kumar Laddi was removed from the post on November 12 after he lost the motion by 11 votes. Similarly, voting was also conducted against vice-chairperson Karnail Singh but he managed to save his seat as nine persons voted against him against the required figure of 10 votes.

There are 15 members in the Zila Parishad and minimum 10 votes were required against the chairperson to unseat him. However, Rajesh Kumar was not satisfied with the procedure adopted for voting. During the no-confidence motion meeting, the resolution for removal of the Zila Parishad chairperson was supported by 11 members by openly raising their hands and not by secret ballot.

Rajesh Kumar said, “The voting should have been done through secret ballot. I requested the authorities for voting through secret ballot but my request was rejected. Of 11 members, some members supported the resolution just because of the fear of the ruling party”. The rules of the Haryana Panchayati Raj Rules were violated during the voting for the no-confidence motion as it should be held by secret ballot and not by openly raising hands, he said.

In 2022, Rajesh Kumar had won the election from Ward no 1 as an Independent candidate, but joined the BJP after the election. However, just before the Assembly elections, he switched to the Congress.

While the Zila Parishad members had claimed that they were not happy with the functioning of the chairperson, Rajesh Kumar said that the no-confidence motion was brought under political pressure.

Rajesh, had claimed that while four votes went in his favour, two other members would have voted for him if secret voting had been done. The members didnot want to go against the government openly, he alleged.

The counsel for Rajesh Kumar, in the court prayed for directions for quashing of the impugned proceedings and order issued on November 12 by Deputy Commissioner Ambala in pursuance of proceedings on the resolution of no-confidence motion, whereby the petitioner Rajesh Kumar was removed from the post of Zila Parishad Chairperson.

It was also prayed that during the pendency of the present petition, the operation of the proceedings and order of no-confidence motion may be stayed. It was also prayed that the election for new chairperson may also be stayed during the pendency of the petition.

The Punjab and Haryana High Court in its order directed the parties to maintain status quo as of November 19. The matter has been listed for December 10.

Meanwhile, CEO Zila Parishad Gagandeep Singh, said, “Order regarding the status quo has been received and the directions will be followed.”