The Jharkhand High Court issued a directive on Thursday, mandating the state government to organize municipal elections within four months. This ruling was delivered by Justice Anand Sen during a hearing on a contempt application filed by former ward councillor Roshni Khalko.
Justice Sen’s decision came after the state failed to adhere to a previous court directive issued in January 2024, which required the government to hold the elections within three weeks. The court had summoned the chief secretary, Alka Tiwari, to appear in person, underscoring the seriousness of the matter.
During the proceedings, the government proposed conducting the elections following a ‘triple test’ method. This method would involve establishing a commission to assess the backwardness of local bodies, specify reservation proportions based on the findings, and ensure these reservations do not surpass 50% for SCs, STs, and OBCs combined. However, the court dismissed this approach, echoing observations from the Supreme Court and itself that such a test was unnecessary for the elections.
Justice Sen expressed frustration with the government’s tactics, stating clearly that the administration could not delay the elections under the guise of implementing the ‘triple test’ method, which he deemed an unjustifiable hindrance.
The need for prompt municipal elections was highlighted by the lapse in the tenure of ward councillors, including Roshni Khalko, in 2023. The delay has effectively left the civic authority without elected representatives, leading to what Khalko described as a “failure of the civic machinery” in the capital. The opposition parties have also shown strong interest in the ‘triple test,’ further complicating the situation.
