Shimla. The way seems to be clear for Panchayat and Municipal body elections in Himachal Pradesh, but legal complications have increased the difficulties of the district administration. After strict orders of the High Court, it is mandatory to release the new reservation roster in all the districts by 5 pm today. The court has made it clear that any further delay in the election process will not be tolerated. DC’s ‘Privilege’ powers put on hold: Why would the roster change? The biggest turning point in this whole matter came when the High Court banned the powers given by the state government to the Deputy Commissioners (DC) to decide 5 percent additional reservation, terming them illegal.
Fresh preparation: The districts whose roster was released on Monday itself will now have to cancel it and prepare it again based on the new rules.
Root of controversy: The court has considered the changes made by the government in the roster rules to be procedurally wrong. Now reservation will be decided as per the old system or court guidelines.
Supreme Court’s ‘deadline’: Elections will have to be held by May 31
The time pressure for conducting elections has now doubled on the government and the State Election Commission:
Deadline of 31 May: The Supreme Court has given strict orders that at all costs, Panchayat and municipal body elections should be completed before 31 May 2026.
Tenure ends: The tenure of most of the Panchayats in the state has ended on 31 January 2026 and that of the municipal bodies on 17 January 2026. Presently an administrator is appointed here.
Stir in 73 municipal bodies also: Along with Panchayats, simultaneous elections are also proposed in 73 municipal bodies, preparations for which have started on war footing.
Flashback: Why were the elections postponed?
Remember that the State Election Commission was already ready to hold elections, but the government had decided to postpone them citing the ‘disaster’ in the state. Earlier the High Court had given the deadline till 30th April, which was later extended by the Supreme Court to 31st May.
The roster to be released this evening will decide who will be the next face of politics in rural and urban areas of Himachal. However, the court’s stay on the government’s rules has once again put the administrative machinery into chaos. Now everyone’s eyes are on the list to be released today at 5 pm.
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