Munish Sood
Mandi
In a significant ruling on grassroots democracy, the Himachal Pradesh High Court has directed the state government to conduct Panchayat elections before April 30, 2026. The order was passed after three days of continuous hearings on petitions challenging the delay in the electoral process.
A Division Bench comprising Justice Vivek Singh Thakur and Justice Ramesh Verma directed the State Election Commission and the state government to complete all procedural formalities by February 28 and begin the election process from February 20.
The court observed that constitutional institutions cannot be kept in abeyance indefinitely and that democratic processes cannot be postponed endlessly on administrative grounds. It instructed the State Election Commission and the government to jointly prepare a detailed roadmap to ensure timely conduct of the elections.
Exams, Census and Monsoon Cited During Hearing
During the hearing, the court took note of the academic calendar, observing that board examinations would be conducted in schools during March, making it difficult to use school buildings as polling stations. Since examinations would continue for nearly a month, the court noted that April would be the most feasible window for the elections.
Counsel for the petitioner, Nand Lal, submitted that elections must be completed before April 30.
The state government had sought six months’ time, citing logistical and administrative challenges. The State Election Commission also flagged difficulties, stating that February and March would be occupied with board examinations, followed by census-related deployment of government staff from May onwards. It further submitted that holding elections during July and August would be impractical due to the monsoon season.
After hearing all sides, the High Court delivered its verdict, having reserved its order earlier on Wednesday.
Tenure of Panchayat Bodies Ending Soon
The tenure of Panchayati Raj institutions in Himachal Pradesh will expire on January 31, 2026, while the term of 50 urban local bodies will end on January 18.
The state has:
• 3,577 Gram Panchayats
• 90 Panchayat Samitis
• 11 Zila Parishads
• 71 Urban Local Bodies
On November 19, the State Election Commission had issued orders under Clause 2.1 of the Model Code of Conduct, placing a ban on the formation of new panchayats and ward delimitation.
With the expiry of the present bodies, the government is expected to appoint administrators until the newly elected representatives take charge.
Government Had Cited Disaster Situation
The Sukhu government had earlier justified the postponement of elections, citing the impact of last year’s monsoon disaster. It argued that several rural areas were still cut off due to damaged roads and infrastructure, making it difficult to conduct elections within the stipulated timeframe.
The opposition had accused the government of deliberately delaying elections and weakening democratic institutions at the grassroots level.
CM Sukhu Voices Displeasure Over Verdict
Reacting to the High Court order, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu expressed displeasure over the ruling, stating that the state is currently operating under the Disaster Management Act.
“The Disaster Management Act is a central law passed by Parliament. With this decision, the relevance of the Act appears to have been diluted. The government will study the legal implications of the judgment,” Sukhu said.
He added that legal interpretation was required and that the government would place its position before the High Court. However, the Chief Minister maintained that he was personally in favour of holding elections in April or May.
Government to Study Judgment
Cabinet Minister Rajesh Dharmani said the government would examine the verdict in detail.
“The decision will be studied and discussed in the Cabinet meeting. The government will take appropriate steps accordingly,” Dharmani said, dismissing the BJP’s allegations as politically motivated.
Jai Ram Thakur Welcomes HC Order
Former Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur welcomed the High Court’s decision.
“The High Court verdict on Panchayat elections is welcome. From day one, the Sukhu government has tried to snatch the constitutional rights of the people. In the name of system change, this attitude of the government is extremely unfortunate,” Thakur said.
Court Reaffirms Constitutional Mandate
In its observations, the High Court reiterated that democratic institutions form the backbone of governance and cannot be suspended indefinitely on administrative or logistical grounds. The court emphasized that holding elections is a constitutional obligation and must be carried out within a reasonable timeframe.
With the verdict, the government is now under a clear judicial mandate to ensure that Panchayat elections in Himachal Pradesh are conducted before the end of April.
