Himachal Pradesh Government Moves Forward with Panchayat Elections
The Himachal Pradesh Cabinet has officially cleared the path for holding elections to Panchayati Raj institutions (PRIs) before the April 30 deadline set by the state High Court. This crucial decision emerged from a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu at the state secretariat on Monday, January 19, 2026.
Cabinet Discussion and Court Compliance
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Harshwardhan Chauhan provided details about the meeting. He explained that while the PRI elections were not originally on the official agenda, the Cabinet engaged in extensive discussions on this additional matter. Chief Minister Sukhu informed the Cabinet members that the government would conduct the local body elections in full compliance with the High Court's order.
The court had directed the state to complete these polls before April 30, 2026. Chauhan addressed questions about the Chief Minister's earlier comments regarding studying the court decision. He clarified that this did not mean the government planned to challenge the verdict in any way.
Disaster Management Act and Election Timeline
Minister Chauhan also spoke about the Disaster Management Act of 2005, which remains in force across Himachal Pradesh. He stated that the Act would be withdrawn once ground conditions improve sufficiently. However, he made a clear distinction between this legislation and the election process.
The enforcement of the Disaster Management Act and the conduct of local body elections are not interlinked, according to Chauhan's clarification. Rural Development Minister Anirudh Singh attended the meeting and briefed the Chief Minister about the current ground situation in various districts.
Background: High Court's Firm Stance
This Cabinet decision follows the Himachal Pradesh High Court's rejection of the state government's plea on January 9. The government had sought a six-month deferment of the Panchayati Raj elections. The court firmly dismissed this request.
A Division Bench comprising Justice Vivek Thakur and Justice Romesh Verma issued specific directions while disposing of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL). The PIL was filed by advocate Mandeep Chandel, challenging the postponement of these crucial local polls.
The High Court directed the State Election Commission (SEC) and the state government to complete the entire election process by February 28. This creates a tight timeline for election preparations across the state's rural and urban local bodies.
Government's Initial Concerns
Earlier, the state government had approached the State Election Commission with a request to pause the election process. Officials cited extensive damage to public and private property and roads throughout Himachal Pradesh. They also noted that the Disaster Management Act remained active in the state due to ongoing recovery efforts.
The Cabinet meeting addressed at least 58 different agenda items alongside the election discussion. This indicates a busy legislative schedule for the Himachal Pradesh government as it balances recovery efforts with democratic processes.
The decision to proceed with elections represents a significant step toward restoring full local governance across Himachal Pradesh's villages and towns. It demonstrates the government's commitment to following judicial directives while managing post-disaster recovery operations.
