Sunil Chadha
SHIMLA: In the midst of a simmering political confrontation in Himachal Pradesh Government over the upcoming panchayat polls, the government on Friday notified the Panchayati Raj Election Third Amendment Rules, 2025, a move that has added a fresh twist to an already volatile situation.
Under the revised rules, Deputy Commissioners and SDMs have been empowered to redraw zila parishad boundaries in areas where population variances, tough terrain, administrative convenience and accessibility demand it. Officials say the intent is to ensure that delimitation reflects not just headcount, but also the state’s challenging geography.
On the same day, State Election Commissioner Anil Khachi called on Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla at Raj Bhavan — officially described as a courtesy call, but one that immediately triggered political speculation given the ongoing standoff.
Draft released earlier, no objections received
According to officials, the government had published the draft amendment on October 3, 2025, inviting objections and suggestions from the public, none of which were received. The changes, however, come with a caveat: the total number of territorial constituencies cannot exceed the ceiling laid down under Section 89(2) of the Himachal Pradesh Panchayati Raj Act, 1994.
The amendment, the government argues, ensures that delimitation is not driven by population alone but is balanced by administrative viability in a hill state where access often defines governance.
Rules cannot be enforced now, says department
Panchayati Raj Secretary C Palrasu maintained that only “minor modifications” had been made. But he added that after the SEC’s latest directives, the amended rules cannot be implemented immediately, deepening the procedural deadlock.
The rift has had a tangible impact on ground preparations. The printing of voter lists, a crucial step before polling, has come to a halt. District election officers have reportedly not provided the required data, preventing the Printing & Stationery Department from moving forward, even though tenders had already been issued.
Each ward is to receive 20 copies of the updated voter list before the roster is finalised, but officials now find themselves unsure of their next steps. SEC’s orders have left district authorities in a dilemma over what actions they are permitted to take.
Disaster Act vs election directives
In a peculiar administrative tug-of-war, the government has invoked the Disaster Management Act, while the SEC has instructed officials to proceed with preparing voter lists, ballot papers and other poll materials.
At least two Deputy Commissioners, who also serve as District Election Officers, have written to the Chief Secretary seeking clarity, citing conflicting instructions. The SEC, meanwhile, is unwilling to lift the stay on the restructuring of panchayats, even as the government has urged it to drop Clause 12.1 of the Model Code of Conduct.
