Shimla, April 9 People who have encroached upon government or "shamlat" land will be barred from contesting the Panchayati Raj institutions (PRI) elections, a state official said on Thursday.
"Shamlat" land is village common land which is used by the community.
The order has been issued to ensure the selection of representatives with a clean and honest image to head panchayats, the official said.
The village head and other panchayat members accused of corruption will also be barred from contesting the elections.
The state has already prohibited individuals who have been charged with involvement in the trafficking of "chitta" (adulterated heroin) from contesting the PRI polls.
The government has begun collecting records of such individuals ahead of the May 31 PRI polls. The Panchayati Raj Department has mandated securing a no-objection certificate from them before filing nomination papers.
According to Section 122 of the Himachal Pradesh Panchayati Raj Act, a person shall be disqualified from being chosen as and for being an office-bearer of a Panchayat if he or any of his family members has encroached upon any land belonging to or taken on lease or requisitioned by or on behalf of, the state government, a municipality, a panchayat or a co-operative society.
The disqualification continues until a period of six years, or until he or his family members cease to be the encroacher.
In line with the law, the State Election Commission has instructed all district election officers, returning officers, and assistant returning officers to undertake rigorous scrutiny of nomination papers.