India, July 17 -- The Uttarakhand high court has stayed the disqualification of a panchayat poll candidate from Tehri district and ordered the returning officer to allow the candidate to participate in the ongoing panchayat election.

A division bench of chief justice G. Narendar and justice Alok Mahra was hearing a petition filed by Seeta Devi after her nomination to contest from Bhutsi village in Tehri district for the post of Zila Panchayat member was rejected based on a questionable "no dues certificate" issued from her bank.

"There shall be a stay of the cancelled list so far as it relates to the petitioner, and further there shall be an interim direction, directing the returning officer to allot a symbol to the petitioner and print...