Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Friday questioned the Himachal Pradesh High Court’s order directing the state to hold Panchayat elections while the Disaster Act is in force.
“Whether the Disaster Act has become infructuous and has no meaning?” Sukhu asked. He added that the government would raise this issue before the court.
His reaction came soon after the High Court directed the state government to hold elections to Panchayati Raj Institutions and urban local bodies before April 30, 2026.
Sukhu alleged that several decisions of the High Court were arbitrary and lacked proper legal interpretation. He said the real issue was not the Panchayat elections, but the interpretation of the Disaster Act enacted by the Central government and whether it still holds relevance.
“We will seek clarification from the court whether the Disaster Act has any relevance," he said, adding, "We will study the judgment and take appropriate action,” he added.
He also said that earlier Panchayat elections in Shimla and some other areas were not held in December and January due to snowfall, while elections were conducted in the lower regions.
Also Read: Hold Panchayat polls by April 30: HC to Himachal govt
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