Haryana assembly passes bill on panchayat poll qualifications

The Haryana assembly on Monday passed a bill under which candidates for panchayat elections in the state will have to ensure academic qualifications and fulfil other conditions.

Under the new bill, contesting candidates will require a minimum qualification of matriculation (Class 10).

Scheduled caste and women cabdidates will require middle pass (class 8) qualification and women candidates from scheduled caste category will have to be at least class 5 pass.

The bill was passed on the last day of the assembly's monsoon session amid a walkout by the opposition Congress legislators.

The bill also makes it mandatory for pachayat election contesting candidates to ensure that they have a functional toilet at home.

The candidates must also ensure that they do not have any criminal charges framed against them, have not defaulted on loans from cooperative banks and have paid their electricity bills.

The BJP goverment in Haryana had brought an ordinance last month on these qualifications, but the Punjab and Haryana High Court had stayed the new conditions following a petition filed before it.