Court Pressures UP Government Over Delayed OBC Commission

The Allahabad High Court's Lucknow bench has taken a firm stance against the Uttar Pradesh government, issuing a contempt notice to Anil Kumar, the Principal Secretary of the Panchayati Raj Department. This notice seeks a timeline clarification for constituting the Other Backward Classes (OBC) Commission, crucial for the upcoming panchayat elections.

Justice Saurabh Lavania's bench passed the order following a contempt petition from M L Yadav, highlighting discrepancies in the government's earlier court assurance about forming the OBC Commission. The court set May 19 as the next hearing date, amid allegations that the promised commission remains unestablished.

The non-formation of the OBC Commission directly affects the reservation framework critical for the panchayat elections. As the current panchayat term nears its end, the court will scrutinize the government's compliance with its commitments.

(With inputs from agencies.)