Rejecting the state government’s petition to defer Panchayati Raj elections by six months, the Himachal High Court on Friday has the government to hold the poll to Panchayati Raj Institutions and urban local bodies before April 30, 2026.
Disposing of a public interest litigation filed by advocate Mandeep Chandel against the postponement, a Division Bench comprising Justice Vivek Thakur and Justice Romesh Verma also directed the State Election Commission and the Himachal government to complete the entire election process by February 28.
The state government argued that large-scale damage to public and private property and roads had occurred recently and urged the State Election Commission to put the election process on hold until conditions improved. It also said the Disaster Act was currently in force in Himachal Pradesh.
However, after hearing arguments over three consecutive days, the High Court ordered the state government to go ahead with the elections and complete them before April 30, 2026.
Advocate Nand Lal, appearing for the petitioner, said the court fixed the deadline after noting that board examinations would be held in schools in March, making it impractical to set up polling booths. The court therefore ordered that elections be completed before the end of April.
The state government had maintained that due to recent disasters and logistical difficulties, it required at least six months to conduct the elections, but the court did not accept this submission.
The State Election Commission also added that further postponement would create more problems, as census-related duties would begin in May and holding elections during the monsoon months of July and August would be extremely difficult.
The five-year term of Panchayati Raj Institutions will end on January 31, 2026, while the tenure of 50 urban local bodies will expire on January 18. The state has 3,577 Gram Panchayats, 90 Panchayat Samitis, 11 Zila Parishads and 71 urban local bodies.
The opposition had also criticised the decision to defer the polls, alleging that the government was trying to avoid elections and was unwilling to face the electorate.
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