The Telangana High Court has directed the State Government and the State Election Commission (SEC) to conduct elections to the Gram Panchayats and declare the results on or before September 30, 2025, marking a decisive judicial intervention in response to a prolonged electoral delay.
Justice T. Madhavi Devi passed the order while hearing a batch of writ petitions that challenged the state authorities’ inaction in conducting polls to Gram Panchayats, whose five-year term expired on January 31, 2024.
The petitioners had sought directions to ensure elections for the posts of Sarpanches and Ward Members, arguing that the failure to hold timely elections had deprived the rural electorate of democratic governance for over 14 months.
Granting 60 days to the SEC for the entire electoral process, the Court said, “All respondents are directed to complete the process, conduct elections to the Gram Panchayats, and declare the results on or before 30.09.2025.”
In addition, the Court instructed the state government, SEC, and concerned authorities to complete the reservation of seats for Ward Members and Sarpanches within 30 days. Once the reservation process is complete, the state government must provide its concurrence for the dates proposed by the SEC for conducting the elections.
