Telangana High Court Orders State Government To Hold Long-Delayed Local Body Elections In Three Months

The Telangana High Court has directed the state government to conduct local body elections within three months, reported NDTV.

Justice T Madhavi Devi pronounced the order on Wedneday (25 June) on a batch of petitions over the delay in conducting gram panchayat polls.

The court rejected arguments for more time, instructing the government and the State Election Commission (SEC) to complete ward divisions in 30 days and the entire election process by 30 September.

The petitions were filed by former sarpanches, seeking the conduct of elections.

They pointed out that panchayat terms expired on 31 January, 2024, leading to an 18-month delay in elections.

They argued that appointing special officers instead of elected representatives violates Articles 243E and 243K of the Constitution and the Telangana Panchayat Raj Act-2018.

The petitioners contended that local body elections must be held within six months of an elected body's term expiring, as constitutionally mandated.

They also submitted to the court of a prior undertaking by the state government in October last year to hold elections by February 2025, which it failed to fulfill.