Allahabad HC sets 3-month deadline for UP panchayat polls

The state govt must explain delay and ensure the polls, including quota process, are completed on time: SP's Abdul Hafiz Gandhi

The government feared that rural discontent against it would be reflected in the panchayat polls and could also have an impact on the 2027 Assembly elections.

UP Congress chief Aradhana Mishra


New Delhi: The Allahabad High Court on Wednesday directed the Uttar Pradesh government and the State Election Commission to complete the three-tier panchayat election process within three months.

However, the court also upheld the state government's decision to appoint outgoing gram Pradhans as administrators after the expiry of the gram panchayats' tenure. Hearing the matters, a division bench of Justices Ajit Kumar and Garima Prasad made it clear that the outgoing Gram Pradhans would continue to function as administrators.

The order is significant in view of the upcoming 2027 assembly polls in the politically crucial state. The last UP Panchayat elections were held in April 2021, and the results for Zila Panchayat members were declared in May 2021. The three-tier Panchayat elections were supposed to be held by the end of June or July this year.

The matter came before the court after the state government decided to appoint outgoing gram pradhans as administrators following the expiry of their term recently. According to an agency report, a total of 11 petitions, including six Public Interest Litigations (PILs), were filed before the High Court challenging the arrangement. The petitioners sought timely conduct of the panchayat elections and a clear deadline for completing the electoral process.

The issue of reservation for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in the panchayat elections also came up during the hearing.

While welcoming the court order UP's Panchayat Raj Minister Om Prakash Rajbhar told reporters that he would be in position to speak on this matter only after reading the copy of the order.

The main opposition Samajwadi Party's national spokesperson Abdul Hafiz Gandhi said that the Allahabad High Court's direction must be implemented in letter and spirit. "The state government must explain the delay and ensure that the elections, including the reservation process, are completed within the stipulated time frame. Timely elections are essential to protect people's democratic rights and ensure accountable local governance," Gandhi said in his statement.

UP Congress Committee president Aradhana Mishra 'Mona' said, "The government feared that rural discontent against it would be reflected in the panchayat polls and could also have an impact on the 2027 Assembly elections."

"It is expected from respondent No.2 (State Election Commission) that the entire schedule of holding the election should be finalised and brought on record before the next date of listing," the court observed, while allowing the plea by Dashrath Yadav, as per an agency report.

With inputs from agency