Ordinance fixing minimum educational qualifications for contesting polls: Apex Court refuses to entertain petitions; asks petitioners to first approach High Court

The Apex Court today refused to entertain petitions challenging the validity of Rajasthan Government ordinance which prescribes minimum educational qualification for contesting elections to the local bodies in the state. 

Supreme Court of India

The Bench headed by Chief Justice H.L. Dattu said that the petitioners should first move the High Court as the High Court is competent to decide the legal questions involved. 

As per the ordinance, in order to contest the Sarpanch elections, the candidate should have passed Class VIII and in scheduled areas secured a Class V pass. For contesting Zilla Parishad and Panchayat Samiti polls a candidate has to pass Class X examinations. 

The elections to the local bodies in Rajasthan are scheduled to be held on January 16^th 2015 and the counting on February 5^th 2015.