The court of civil judge (Junior Division), Kendrapara, today set aside the election of Sarpanch Rajiv Kumar Prusty of Kuhudi grampanchayat in the district as he had violated the two-child norm by filing nomination papers during the last three-tier panchayat elections in the state.
Prusty was elected as the Sarpanch four years ago by defeating Dipti Ranjan Dash. At the time of filing nomination papers, Dash had opposed the nomination paper of Prusty before the election officer and demanded rejection of his documents as he was father of three children.
Later the defeated candidate had filed a case in the civil court against Prusty as per Section-11 of Odisha Gram Panchayat Act which said a person having more than two children was not entitled to contest Panchayat polls.
After examining the evidence, the court set aside the election of Prusty as it found that he had more than two children.