Supreme Court Draws the Line: Himachal Must Hold Local Elections by May 31

The Supreme Court of India has sent a clear message—constitutional bodies cannot be left without elected representatives. On Friday, a division bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Jaymalya Bagchi directed the Himachal Pradesh government to conduct Panchayat and urban local body elections no later than May 31.

The order came while hearing the state government’s plea against the Himachal Pradesh High Court’s earlier directive, which had set April 30 as the deadline. The government had sought more time, citing heavy rains, natural disasters, and ongoing restoration work across several districts. It argued that the Disaster Management Act, being a central law, should take precedence over the state’s Panchayati Raj Act.

While acknowledging the challenges, the Supreme Court stressed that administrative processes like re-demarcation cannot be used to delay elections indefinitely. The bench emphasized that democracy requires timely representation, and constitutional institutions cannot remain vacant.

With the new deadline in place, political activity in Himachal is expected to intensify. The government now faces the task of expediting preparations—completing formalities, mobilizing resources, and ensuring smooth conduct of polls—all under the watchful eye of the apex court.