In Brief
A candidate challenged the rejection of his nomination for Zila Panchayat elections before the High Court. The Single Judge dismissed the writ petition, but the Division Bench granted interim relief allowing him to contest. The Supreme Court set aside the interim order, holding that Article 243-O of the Constitution bars courts from interfering in Panchayat elections except through election petitions as prescribed by statute. Since Uttarakhand law provides a complete statutory remedy for nomination disputes, the High Court erred in entertaining the writ petition and disrupting the electoral process. The Court emphasized that judicial review in Panchayat elections must follow the statutorily mandated path, not discretionary writ jurisdiction.
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