Jaipur, May 11 The Rajasthan High Court on Monday expressed strong displeasure over the state government's failure to conduct Panchayat and local body elections within the stipulated timeframe, observing that sufficient time had already been granted but the polls were still being repeatedly postponed.
After hearing arguments in the matter, a Division Bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Sanjeev Prakash Sharma and Justice Sanjeet Purohit reserved its verdict.
The state government and the State Election Commission had approached the High Court seeking additional time to conduct the elections.
Appearing for the government, Advocate General Rajendra Prasad informed the court that the election process had been delayed because of conflicting High Court rulings concerning internal ward delimitation in local body elections.
He further stated that elections could not be conducted since the report regarding OBC reservations had not yet been submitted by the Commission.
The Bench questioned the government over the delay in conducting Panchayat elections, observing that the court’s earlier directions were mainly related to local body elections.
The judges asked why Panchayat polls had also not been held within the prescribed timeframe. The court further observed that no clear information had been placed before it regarding the functioning and status of the OBC Commission.
The Bench remarked that had the Commission's position been properly clarified, appropriate directions could have been issued to it as well.
During the hearing, the government cited extreme weather conditions as one of the reasons for seeking postponement.
The Advocate General argued that Rajasthan experiences severe heatwaves during June, while the monsoon season begins in July, making election management difficult.
Rejecting the argument, the High Court observed that the people of Rajasthan are accustomed to such weather conditions.
Counsel appearing for the petitioners accused the government of intentionally delaying the elections.
Advocate Puneet Singhvi argued that the government lacked the intention to hold the polls, resulting in a constitutional crisis in the state, where administrators and officials were functioning in place of elected representatives in Panchayats and local bodies.
Advocate Premchand Devanda informed the court that the tenure of thousands of Panchayats had already expired and alleged that elections had been continuously delayed for nearly one-and-a-half years.
Earlier, on November 14, 2025, while deciding 439 petitions, the Rajasthan High Court had directed the government to conduct Panchayat and local body elections by April 15, 2026.
The court had also ordered completion of the delimitation process by December 31, 2025.
The Supreme Court had similarly emphasised timely elections. However, both the state government and the State Election Commission have now sought an extension from the High Court.
Meanwhile, former MLAs Sanyam Lodha and Giriraj Devanda have filed a contempt petition against the Election Commission over non-compliance with the court’s directions.
The matter is scheduled to be heard on May 18.
In its application, the government cited logistical constraints, including the pending OBC Commission report, availability of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), staff shortages and other administrative requirements, as reasons for seeking postponement.
The government also argued that the terms of several Panchayat Samitis and Zila Parishads are set to expire in the coming months. Conducting elections after the expiry of all terms, it said, would strengthen the concept of “One State, One Election”.
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