Orissa High Court Upholds Odia Literacy Requirement for Sarpanch, Orders Fresh Elections

The Orissa High Court has reaffirmed that candidates contesting for the post of sarpanch must demonstrate the ability to both read and write in Odia, the state’s official language.

The ruling came in response to a petition filed by Maheshwar Jena of Bishnupur gram panchayat, whose disqualification was upheld by the Court.

The bench clarified that functional literacy is a statutory requirement under Section 19 of the Odisha Grama Panchayats Act, 1964.

It emphasised that mere reading proficiency is insufficient; candidates must also be able to write Odia to effectively discharge their responsibilities.

Jena had challenged a Civil Judge, Balasore order dated April 20, 2024, which declared him ineligible after his written Odia sample was found largely unintelligible. The High Court ruled that the lower court’s decision was legally sound and enforceable.

Importantly, the Court noted that disqualification is not permanent. Once a candidate acquires the necessary reading and writing skills, they may contest future elections.

This ruling echoes a similar case in February 2023, when the election of a sarpanch in Dhenkanal was annulled due to a lack of Odia literacy. Both cases highlight the judiciary’s commitment to ensuring that elected representatives are capable of fulfilling their statutory duties.

Fresh elections will now be scheduled in the Bishnupur gram panchayat, reinforcing the importance of Odia literacy in grassroots governance.