In a significant development, the Supreme Court of India has given its final approval to the delimitation and reorganisation exercise for panchayats in Rajasthan. This decision clears the last legal hurdle for conducting panchayat elections in the state, which must now be completed by the stipulated deadline of April 15.
Court's Final Verdict Dismisses Villagers' Plea
A Bench led by the Chief Justice of India and Justice Joymala Bagchi refused to interfere in the process on Monday. The apex court dismissed a Special Leave Petition (SLP) filed by residents of revenue village Singhaniya, thereby upholding the Rajasthan High Court's judgment from November 14, 2025.
The petitioners had challenged the high court's decision, arguing that their villages were merged with a gram panchayat located far away. They raised concerns about difficult terrain, poor road connectivity, and alleged violations of norms related to distance, which they claimed would hinder their access to local governance.
State's Defense and Completed Process
Opposing the plea, Additional Advocate General Shiv Mangal Sharma, representing the state of Rajasthan, informed the court that the delimitation process had already been lawfully completed within the timeline set by the High Court. He stated that the State Election Commission had already initiated preparatory steps, including directives for voter list preparation, and the election process was underway.
"Distance is not the sole criterion for delimitation," Sharma submitted. He elaborated that several critical factors are considered before final approval at the Cabinet level, including:
- Population
- Administrative feasibility
- Governance requirements
- Reports submitted by District Collectors
Why Judicial Interference Was Avoided
The state counsel strongly argued that any judicial intervention at this advanced stage would have a cascading effect. It could potentially force the redrawing of boundaries for multiple gram panchayats, seriously disrupting the entire election schedule. The Supreme Court, after hearing arguments from both sides, found merit in the state's position and declined to entertain the SLP.
This verdict affirms the Rajasthan High Court's earlier order which had validated the statewide delimitation exercise. The high court had directed the state to complete the delimitation by December 31, 2025, and subsequently hold elections to all Panchayati Raj institutions on or before April 15.
With the Supreme Court's dismissal, the path is now completely clear for the State Election Commission to proceed with the panchayat polls as scheduled, ensuring the continuation of grassroots democratic governance in Rajasthan.
