Jaipur, Nov 14 (NationPress) The High Court has delivered a crucial order to the Rajasthan government, mandating that both Panchayat and Municipal elections be held concurrently by April 15, 2026. The court has also instructed the ruling BJP government to finalize the delimitation process by December 31, emphasizing that delaying elections infringes constitutional mandates.

A division bench, led by Acting Chief Justice S.P. Sharma, pronounced the verdict on Friday, addressing multiple petitions submitted by Giriraj Singh Devanda, former MLA Sanyam Lodha, and others.

The petitioners contended that the Rajasthan government had unlawfully and whimsically postponed Panchayat and Municipal elections, even though the terms for nearly 6,759 panchayats and 55 municipalities across the state had expired.

The court had reserved its judgment on August 12 following the conclusion of hearings, and finally issued the long-awaited ruling nearly three months later.

Representing the petitioners, advocate Premchand Devanda argued that the government’s notification dated January 16, 2025, which deferred Panchayat elections, breached Articles 243E and 243K of the Constitution and Section 17 of the Rajasthan Panchayati Raj Act, 1994.

He asserted that once a panchayat’s five-year term ends, elections must be conducted immediately, and outgoing sarpanches cannot be appointed as administrators, as private individuals are not permitted to occupy such roles under the law.

In a separate Public Interest Litigation regarding municipal elections, advocate Puneet Singhvi, representing ex-MLA Lodha, claimed that the government’s inaction on elections in 55 municipalities — whose terms expired in November 2024 — resulted in the unauthorized appointment of administrators.

He noted that the government’s actions contravened the Constitution and the Rajasthan Municipalities Act, 2009, highlighting that the Supreme Court permits postponement of local body elections solely in instances of natural disasters, which was not applicable in this scenario.

The BJP government defended its stance, stating that it aimed to implement the concept of ‘One State, One Election’.

A high-level committee had been established for this initiative, which the government claimed would conserve time, resources, and workforce while bolstering Panchayati Raj and urban local bodies.

The government further explained that following the previous administration's creation of several new districts, nine of which have been dissolved, the processes of boundary demarcation, panchayat restructuring, and municipal delimitation remain incomplete.

Due to this ongoing work, elections were postponed. The government argued that under Section 95 of the Rajasthan Panchayati Raj Act, 1994, it holds the authority to appoint administrators in the event of deferred elections, asserting that the Act does not specify who can serve as an administrator, granting the government discretionary power.