SC upholds minimum educational criteria for panchayat polls in Haryana

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday upheld the minimum educational criteria for candidates contesting the panchayat polls in Haryana.

The panchayat polls in Haryana were earlier deferred indefinitely with the state government's decision not to do away with mandating minimum educational qualification as a pre-requisite for the candidates.

The apex court had earlier said that fixing a minimum educational qualification to contest the elections would 'straightaway' debar 50 percent Indians.

According to the law passed on September 7 by the state assembly, while general candidates must have passed class 10 examinations, women and Dalit candidates are required to have cleared class 8 to contest the polls.

The candidates should also not have a criminal conviction, no pending electricity bills or loan payments and a working toilet, the law had said.