The Himachal Pradesh High Court on Friday directed the state government and the State Election Commission to complete elections to the Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) and Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) by April 30, 2026, rejecting the state’s request for a six-month deferment citing natural disasters and logistical challenges.
A Division Bench comprising Justice Vivek Thakur and Justice Romesh Verma issued the directive while disposing of a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Advocate Mandeep Chandel challenging the proposed postponement of the elections.
The state government, citing extensive damage caused by recent natural calamities and the invocation of the Disaster Management Act, had urged the court to defer the elections. It claimed that holding elections in the present scenario would be unfeasible and requested a six-month extension.
However, the court did not accept the government’s justification. After three days of arguments, it ordered that the entire election process be completed by February 28, while granting time till April 30, 2026, to conduct the polling, taking into account the board examinations scheduled in March.
Advocate Nand Lal, appearing for the petitioner, informed the court that conducting elections during the school examination period would be impractical due to the use of school buildings as polling stations. The court considered this while determining the extended deadline.
The State Election Commission also opposed the proposed delay, warning that any further deferment would clash with upcoming administrative commitments. It noted that census operations are scheduled to begin in May, and elections during the monsoon season (July-August) would be logistically challenging.
The five-year term of the existing Panchayati Raj Institutions ends on January 31, 2026, and the tenure of 50 Urban Local Bodies concludes earlier on January 18. The elections will cover a vast network of local bodies, including:
- 3,577 Gram Panchayats
- 90 Panchayat Samitis
- 11 Zila Parishads
- 71 Urban Local Bodies
The opposition had strongly criticised the state government for seeking to delay the elections, accusing it of trying to avoid the democratic process.
With this order, the High Court has now clearly mandated the state to adhere to constitutional obligations and ensure timely elections, even in the face of administrative and natural challenges.
