| With the general elections round the corner, a three member ministerial committee of the Gujarat government is compiling a report on whether a person of foreign origin should be eligible to hold positions in local self government bodies like panchayats, nagarpalikas or municipal corporations.
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| The committee, which was scheduled to submit its report to the state Cabinet by mid February, will now present the report by mid March, state law minister Ashok Bhatt said on Monday.
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| On November 12, 2003, the state Cabinet had taken a decision to set up a three-member ministerial committee to ascertain whether a person of foreign origin can hold positions in local self government bodies.
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| The committee, with law minister Ashok Bhatt, panchayat minister Bhupendrasinh Chudasama and urban development minister Indravadan Jadeja as its members, has been asked to look into the legal framework and recommendations of the law commission. It will hold discussions with people and opposition parties before submitting its report.
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| Government spokesperson I K Jadeja said last November that a majority of the people, not only in Gujarat but all over the country, are of the opinion that a person of foreign origin, even if he or she is a citizen of India, should not hold public positions.
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| “While there is no controversy whether such a person can contest elections, the scope of the committee will be to determine whether such a person can hold a post in local self government bodies. In other words, the committee will submit a report on whether a person of foreign origin can become a sarpanch, a talati, a nagarpalika or taluka panchayat president or mayor,” Jadeja had said.
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| Government sources said the committee will submit its report strictly abiding by the constitution and other laws like the Gujarat Panchayat Act 1992, Gujarat Nagarpalikas Act 1963 and the Bombay Provincial Municipal Corporations Act 1949.
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| “However, the committee will suggest to the cabinet whether there is any need to amend existing laws. The cabinet will then decide on the future course of action,” committee members said.
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| “We have sought documents from the research department of the union government on this issue. Meanwhile, discussions are on with several organisations for their opinion.
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| “The committee will submit its report after receiving inputs from various sources,” said Ashok Bhatt.
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| Although the government has taken up the exercise, the spokesman made it clear that the opinion of the state government was that a person of foreign origin cannot hold any office in a local self government body. The committee has not yet ascertained whether there is such a precedent in Gujarat or not. |
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