The Rajasthan State Election Commission has directed the Panchayati Raj Department and the Local Self-Government Department to urgently finalize the reservation of seats and posts for local bodies. This is a crucial step before announcing the 2026 elections.
High Court Order Mandates Timely Elections
The directive comes in response to a Rajasthan High Court order dated May 22, 2026, which requires the entire process of holding general elections to Panchayati Raj institutions and urban local bodies to be completed by July 31, 2026.
Commission’s Letters to Departments
In letters to both departments, the commission cited the court order and emphasized that the reservation exercise must be completed quickly to meet the deadline. It noted that under Rules 5 and 6 of the Rajasthan Panchayati Raj Election Rules, 1994, the state government is responsible for determining reservations for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes, and women.
The commission asked the Panchayati Raj Department to complete the process at the earliest and inform it, so the election schedule for Panchayati Raj institutions can be announced without delay. A similar process is required for urban local bodies as the Commission prepares to ensure timely elections across the state in compliance with the High Court’s order.
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