Rajasthan HC adjourns contempt plea on panchayat poll delay; next date May 26
Synopsis
A contempt petition alleging deliberate stonewalling of court orders on Rajasthan's long-overdue panchayat and local body elections has been adjourned to 26 May — but the bigger question hangs on a reserved verdict that could either force elections or hand the government a December reprieve. Over one-and-a-half years without elected local representatives, petitioners say, amounts to a constitutional crisis.
Key Takeaways
The Rajasthan High Court adjourned the contempt petition hearing on 18 May ; next date is 26 May .
The contempt petition was filed by former MLA Sanyam Lodha and others against the State Election Commission and Commissioner Rajeshwar Singh .
Petitioners allege the Commission set 22 April as the voter list publication date, violating the court's 15 April election deadline.
The State Government has sought deferral of polls until December ; the Election Commission cited pending OBC reservation determination as a reason.
A separate Division Bench has reserved its verdict on the postponement applications — that ruling is expected before the 26 May hearing.
Petitioners describe over one-and-a-half years without elected local body representatives as a 'constitutional crisis' in Rajasthan.
The Rajasthan High Court on Monday, 18 May adjourned the hearing on a contempt petition filed against the State Election Commission over prolonged delays in conducting Panchayat and local body elections in the state. The next hearing is scheduled for 26 May.
Why the Hearing Was Deferred
The matter was listed before a Division Bench comprising Justice Mahendar Kumar Goyal and Justice Anil Kumar Upman. The Bench deferred the hearing, noting that a separate Division Bench has already reserved its verdict on applications filed by the State Government and the State Election Commission seeking postponement of the polls. The court chose to await that ruling before proceeding further with the contempt matter.
Background: Contempt Notices and the Core Allegation
The contempt petition was filed by former MLA Sanyam Lodha, Girraj Singh Devanda, and others. During a previous hearing, the High Court had issued contempt notices to the State Election Commission and State Election Commissioner Rajeshwar Singh, seeking an explanation for how the Commission issued a voter list revision schedule for local body elections beyond a deadline the court had previously fixed.
The petitioners alleged that the Commission had set 22 April as the date for publication of final voter lists — making it impossible to complete the election process within the 15 April deadline earlier ordered by the court. They argued this constituted willful disobedience of judicial directions and amounted to contempt of court.
A 'Constitutional Crisis', Petitioners Argue
Lodha further alleged that the delay in holding Panchayat and Urban Local Body elections over the past one-and-a-half years has created a 'constitutional crisis' in Rajasthan. He contended that administrators appointed in place of elected representatives have caused public distress, with democratic accountability effectively suspended at the grassroots level.
Government and Commission Seek December Deferral
On 11 May, a separate Division Bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Sanjeev Prakash Sharma and Justice Sanjeet Purohit heard applications from the State Government and the State Election Commission seeking a postponement of the polls. After arguments, the Bench reserved its verdict.
The State Government requested that elections be deferred until December, citing administrative constraints and prevailing circumstances across different months. The State Election Commission supported this position, arguing that conducting elections before finalising the OBC reservation determination would not be feasible.
What Happens Next
With the contempt matter now adjourned to 26 May, the outcome of the reserved verdict on the postponement applications will be closely watched. If the court rejects the deferral request, pressure on the State Election Commission to announce an immediate poll schedule is likely to intensify significantly.
Point of View
And courts have repeatedly called it out as a pretext. What makes this case sharper is that contempt notices have already been issued, meaning the judiciary has signalled it views this as defiance, not mere administrative difficulty. The reserved verdict on the postponement plea is the real pivot: if the court grants December, it effectively ratifies 18-plus months of unelected administration at the grassroots — a precedent with consequences well beyond Rajasthan.
NationPress
5 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why has the Rajasthan High Court issued contempt notices in the panchayat election case?
The court issued contempt notices to the State Election Commission and Commissioner Rajeshwar Singh because the Commission reportedly issued a voter list revision schedule that extended beyond the deadline the court had previously fixed. Petitioners argue this constituted willful disobedience of judicial orders.
When is the next hearing on the Rajasthan panchayat election contempt petition?
The next hearing is scheduled for 26 May. The Division Bench adjourned the matter on 18 May, pending a reserved verdict from a separate bench on the State Government's application to postpone the elections.
Why does the Rajasthan government want to defer panchayat and local body elections to December?
The State Government cited administrative constraints and prevailing circumstances in different months as reasons for seeking a December deferral. The State Election Commission additionally argued that holding elections before finalising OBC reservation determination would not be feasible.
Who filed the contempt petition against the Rajasthan State Election Commission?
The contempt petition was filed by former MLA Sanyam Lodha, Girraj Singh Devanda, and others. They allege that both the State Government and the Election Commission have deliberately delayed elections despite clear court directions.
What is the impact of the prolonged election delay in Rajasthan?
According to the petitioners, the absence of elected Panchayat and Urban Local Body representatives for over one-and-a-half years has created a 'constitutional crisis', with appointed administrators replacing elected officials and causing public distress at the grassroots level.
