The Himachal Pradesh State Election Commission has put a complete moratorium on the delimitation process for Panchayats Raj Institutions, Urban Local Bodies and Municipal Corporations throughout the state under the provision of Election Code of Conduct.
In a notification issued on Monday, the State Election Commissioner Anil Khachi said, “The term of Panchayati Raj institutions and Urban Local Bodies expires in January-April 2026 and under Articles 243E and 243U of the Constitution, the process of elections for these bodies are mandatory to begin at least six months before the expiry of their term and the Supreme Court also in its order has directed the state government to implement these provisions.”
The Commission clarified that the demarcation of 3,577 Gram Panchayats, 90 Panchayat Samitis, 11 Zila Parishads, and 71 urban local bodies has been completed and notified. Furthermore, the voter lists of 3,548 Gram Panchayats and 70 ULBs have been finalized. The voter lists of 29 Gram Panchayats will be finalized on December 1, 2025, and those of one ULB on December 7, 2025.
It stated, “Less than 75 days has been left for the formation process of PRIs and approximately 60 days for most urban local bodies and Consequently, the Commission has taken this step under the Code of Conduct and the Election Commission invoking Section 12.1 of the Model Code of Conduct-2020, has ordered that mo change in the structure, classification, or area of Panchayats and Municipal Bodies shall be made after this order until the elections are over.”
However, the Model Code of Conduct will be enforced after the announcement of election dates of PRI and ULB elections in the state.
The notification has put the state government in an awkward position as the state government has not yet released the reservation roster (for OBC, SC, ST, women, etc.) for wards of Panchayats, Panchayat Samitis, and Zila Parishads.
