JAIPUR: The High Court has issued a significant directive to the Rajasthan government, ordering that Panchayat and Municipal elections be conducted simultaneously by April 15, 2026. The court further instructed the ruling BJP government to complete the delimitation process by December 31, stating that delaying elections violates constitutional provisions.
A division bench headed by Acting Chief Justice S.P. Sharma delivered the judgment on Friday, ruling on a series of petitions filed by Giriraj Singh Devanda, former MLA Sanyam Lodha, and others.
The petitioners argued that the Rajasthan government had illegally and arbitrarily postponed Panchayat and Municipal elections, despite the expiry of terms of nearly 6, 759 panchayats and 55 municipalities across the state.
The court had reserved its verdict on August 12 after concluding hearings, and delivered the long-awaited judgment nearly three months later.