Rajasthan High Court has directed the State Election Commission to take immediate action to conduct overdue municipality elections. The court emphasized that the Election Commission cannot remain a silent spectator, upholding local self-governance and constitutional requirements.
The Rajasthan High Court criticized the State Election Commission for its extended delay in conducting municipality elections and has instructed it to take prompt action to hold the polls.
A single-judge bench led by Justice Anoop Dhand remarked,
“The Election Commission cannot act as a silent spectator by ignoring the postponement, which is hindering local self-governance and contradicting constitutional requirements.”
The court emphasized that the terms of numerous urban local bodies in the state have already lapsed, yet elections have not been held, despite the constitutional obligation to conduct them within six months.
The court stated, This delay is weakening the operation of democratic institutions at the grassroots level.
The bench has urged the State Election Commission to implement necessary measures to ensure the timely organization of the outstanding municipality elections.
Earlier, elections for urban local bodies (ULBs) in Rajasthan have been delayed for a long time. Many ULBs have been running without elected representatives, and administrators have been appointed instead.
The State Election Commission (SEC) had earlier said the delay was due to tasks like updating electoral rolls and preparing reservation data.