Haryana Panchayati Raj Act 1994

1.5 lakh Below Poverty Line (BPL) family households in Haryana do not have toilets, while 7 lakh do have them, attorney general Mukul Rohatgi told the Supreme Court during arguments on the validity of the amendments to the Haryana Panchayati Raj Act 1994, reported the Indian Express.

Rohatgi submitted this figure in respone to justice J Chelameswar’s query while hearing the constitutional validity of the amendment mandating functional toilets in the home of panchayat poll candidates in Haryana.

The Haryana Panchayati Raj Act 1994 as amended to include the criteria on toilets, along with minimum compulsory educational qualification for a candidate, has been suspended in the state till the matter is adjudicated by the Supreme Court. The Haryana government contends that these changes would help the elected representatives to lead by example.