Odisha Panchayat Laws Amendment Ordinance: 6-month jail term for candidates giving false info

Bhubaneswar: Ahead of Panchayat elections in Odisha next year, the State Government promulgated an ordinance to amend existing panchayat laws.

The ordinance ‘Odisha Panchayat Laws (Amendment) Ordinance, 2021’ published in The Odisha Gazette dated December 24, 2021 stated that the Governor of Odisha is satisfied that circumstances exist which render it necessary for him to take immediate action further to amend the Odisha Grama Panchayat Act, 1964, the Odisha Panchayat Samiti Act, 1959, and the Odisha Zilla Parisad Act, 1991.

Following the amendment, it will be mandatory for candidates contesting the panchayat polls to submit details on criminal antecedents, assets and liabilities and educational qualification at the time of filing of nomination.

With amendment of panchayat laws, a candidate may face six-month jail term with fine for giving false information or concealing any information in the affidavit.