The Uttarakhand High Court has stayed the upcoming panchayat elections, casting uncertainty over the scheduled polls. The decision, delivered on Monday, June 23, 2025, came in response to petitions challenging the reservation process for the three-tier panchayat elections. The polls were previously slated for two phases, on July 10 and July 15, with vote counting to occur on July 19.
The stay order was issued by a Division Bench of Chief Justice G. Narendar and Justice Alok Mehra, who were hearing petitions against the government's decision to nullify the existing reservation rotation and implement a new one this year. Ganesh Dutt Kandpal, a resident of Bageshwar, filed a petition arguing that the new rotation prevented him from contesting the election. He contended that the existing reservation rotation system, where constituencies are reserved for various categories for three terms before the quota shifts, was being unfairly altered. The petitioner's advocate also claimed to have challenged the reservation rules issued on June 9. The court has asked the state to present its policy on reservation.
Following the court's order, Panchayati Raj Secretary Chandresh Kumar stated that the stay was due to the absence of a gazette notification for the Reservation Rules 2025. He said the government was working to provide the notification to the High Court to facilitate the lifting of the stay. He affirmed the state's commitment to upholding the court's directives and operating the Panchayati Raj system constitutionally. The state government submitted a detailed reply on reservation and other matters during the last hearing, after the High Court directed them to do so.
The State Election Commission had announced the election dates on Saturday, June 21, 2025, for 12 districts, excluding Haridwar. The nomination process was scheduled to commence on June 25. With the election dates announced, the Model Code of Conduct was enforced in all rural areas of the state except urban areas and Haridwar district. State Election Commissioner Sushil Kumar had issued the notification for the panchayat elections along with the detailed poll schedule.
The High Court's intervention has put a halt to the preparations. District Election Officers were to issue a detailed notification on Monday, setting the stage for nominations from June 25 to June 28. Candidates were to be assigned election symbols on July 3. The elections were highly anticipated, as administrators had been appointed to the panchayats following the completion of their terms.
The Uttarakhand State Election Commission was established in 2001, following the state's formation in 2000, to manage elections for Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) and Urban Local Bodies (ULBs). The SEC oversees electoral rolls and elections across 13 Zila Panchayats, 95 Blocks, and 7485 Gram Panchayats.
The High Court's stay will remain in effect until the state government furnishes the notification for the new reservation rules. The court has also asked the state to present its policy on reservation. The future of the panchayat elections now hinges on the state government's ability to address the concerns raised regarding the reservation process and provide the necessary documentation to the court.
