The Jharkhand High Court directed the Election Commission of India (ECI) to submit an affidavit regarding the voter list for municipal elections in the state. Justice Ananda Sen issued the order while hearing a contempt petition filed by Roshni Khalko, a former ward councillor. The petition highlighted the government’s delay in holding municipal polls. The court is addressing concerns over the timely conduct of elections.
Ranchi: The Jharkhand High Court directed the Election Commission of India (ECI) on Friday to submit an affidavit within two weeks regarding the timeline for providing the voter list to the State Election Commission for the municipal elections in Jharkhand.
Justice Ananda Sen issued this order while addressing a contempt petition filed by former ward councillor Roshni Khalko, who raised concerns about the government’s delay in organizing the municipal elections.
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During the hearing, the ECI informed the court that a voter list had been produced, but it was not updated. The court instructed the ECI to clarify whether this voter list could be utilized for the upcoming municipal elections.
The case is scheduled for another hearing on February 7.
Khalko previously filed a writ petition in 2023 after the term of ward councillors had expired. On January 4, 2024, the court mandated the government to hold municipal elections within three weeks.
However, since this was not carried out, Khalko submitted a contempt petition. On January 16, the court ordered the government to conduct the elections within four months and had earlier summoned Chief Secretary Alka Tiwari to appear in person for the case’s hearing.
The Jharkhand High Court has ordered that municipal elections in the state must be held by May 2025. Justice Ananda Sen gave this directive during a hearing on a contempt petition filed by former Ranchi Municipal Corporation councillor Roshni Khalkho and others.
The court criticized the state government for delaying the elections, pointing out that the tenure of all municipal bodies ended in April 2023, and elections were supposed to take place by April 27, 2023.
Following the court’s order, preparations for municipal elections have begun. For example, the Latehar district administration has already released a draft list of polling stations for the 2025 Municipal General Election.