Congress leader and former MLA Sanyam Lodha on Tuesday, 18 August announced he will file a contempt petition in the Rajasthan High Court, alleging that the state government's postponement of the reservation lottery for Panchayati Raj institutions violates a direct court order. Lodha has already issued legal contempt notices to the Rajasthan Chief Secretary, the State Election Commissioner, the Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) for Panchayati Raj, and the Panchayati Raj Commissioner.

Background: What the High Court Ordered

The contempt move stems from a prior Rajasthan High Court order passed on Lodha's own petition, which directed the state government and the State Election Commission to complete the entire Panchayati Raj election process by November. Critically, the court had specifically directed that the reservation lottery be completed and the election schedule announced by 15 August.

Lodha claimed that government officials were present online when the court passed this order, and that the schedule submitted before the court was prepared on the basis of a meeting chaired by the state Chief Secretary himself — making the subsequent postponement, in his view, an act of deliberate non-compliance.

What Has Been Completed — and What Was Postponed

The lottery process had been progressing in stages. The reservation lottery for heads of 309 urban local bodies and their respective wards was completed, as was the lottery for 41 Zila Pramukhs. However, the lottery for Pradhans, Panchayat Samiti members, Zila Parishad members, Sarpanchs, and ward Panchs — originally scheduled for 17 and 18 August — was abruptly postponed on the evening of 16 August.

Under the revised schedule, the ward reservation lottery for Pradhans, Panchayat Samiti members, and Zila Parishad members will now be held on 17 September, while the lottery for Sarpanchs and ward Panchs is set for 18 September — a full month's delay.

Government's Stated Reasons

The Rajasthan government has cited two factors for the revised schedule: unresolved issues related to OBC reservation and the ongoing Assembly session. Critics, including Lodha, argue these justifications do not constitute legal grounds to override a High Court directive, particularly when the state itself had submitted the original timeline to the court.

Political and Legal Fallout

The postponement has triggered a sharp political dispute, with Lodha warning that if the lottery process is not completed immediately, he will approach the High Court with a formal contempt petition. The delay has also raised broader questions about whether the November deadline set by the court for completing the full Panchayati Raj election process remains achievable. Legal observers note that the state's conduct — submitting a schedule to the court and then revising it unilaterally — carries significant contempt risk.

The next move now rests with the Rajasthan High Court, which will determine whether the postponement constitutes a breach of its earlier order.