India, July 16 -- The Uttarakhand high court on Wednesday stayed the disqualification of a woman contesting the gram pradhan election in Tehri Garhwal district's Udvakhand under a 2016 law that requires candidates to have a toilet at home.

A bench of chief justice G Narendar and justice Alok Mahra noted that the candidate did have a toilet built about 150 metres from her house, and concluded that the returning officer's decision was prima facie a "clear case of malfeasance" and an arbitrary exercise of authority.

Lawyer Abhijay Negi, who appeared for the petitioner, also stressed that neither was a copy of the complaint shared with her nor was she given an opportunity to explain before a local inquiry was ordered. Also, a local inspecti...