The Allahabad High Court has directed the Uttar Pradesh State Election Commission (SEC) to “finalise the entire schedule” for the panchayat elections in the state and bring it on record by the next date of hearing on March 25.
The court also sought to know whether the election process will be completed, as “mandated by the Constitution”, before the ongoing five-year tenure of panchayats expires on May 26.
A division bench of Justices Atul Sreedharan and Siddharth Nandan issued the order while hearing a writ petition filed by Imtiaz Husain.
Directing the State Election Commission to file a “specific affidavit”, the bench, in its order dated March 13, also asked the state government to ensure that either the advocate general or the additional advocate general is present at the next hearing.
The petitioner argued that under Article 243E of the Constitution, a panchayat’s term lasts exactly and “no longer” than five years from the date of its first meeting. He further submitted that the first meeting for gram panchayats in the state was held on May 27, 2021, and the five-year term officially concludes on May 26.
“We think it appropriate to call upon the respondent No.2 (State Election Commission) to explain whether in view of the existing notification dated 19.02.2026, they are in a position to conclude the elections as per the mandate of the Article 243E of the Constitution of India i.e. the election ought to have been completed in the facts of the present case on or before 26.05.2026,” the bench noted.
The petition also highlighted a series of “shifting deadlines” that have “put the constitutional mandate at risk”. According to the petitioner, voter lists were originally scheduled for publication between December 24 and 30, 2025. A January notification pushed the date to March 20. A recent amendment has further delayed the publication of the final voter list to April 15.
Story continues below this ad
Quoting a High Court order, the petitioner referred to the Election Commission’s then stand that the election would take at least 40 to 45 days to conclude.
Once the voter list is finalised, the process of reserving constituencies will also require a significant amount of time, he said.
After hearing the submissions by the petitioner who quoted judgements of the High Court directing the State Election Commission to hold the panchayat election well before the expiry of the current tenure, the bench observed, “It appears that the words used in the judgment are pertaining to Ordinance No. 10 of 2000, by way of which, it has been stated that the UP Panchayat Raj Act was amended”.
“However, it may be clarified whether it was an ordinance as an Act, because an amendment can be made in an existing statute by way of an amending act and not by way of an ordinance. However, we find that clause-3 was inserted by U.P. Act No.22 of 2000. The State may also seek clarification on the aforesaid fact,” it added.
Bhupendra Pandey is the Resident Editor of the Lucknow edition of The Indian Express. With decades of experience in the heart of Uttar Pradesh’s journalistic landscape, he oversees the bureau’s coverage of India’s most politically significant state. His expertise lies in navigating the complex intersections of state governance, legislative policy, and grassroots social movements. From tracking high-stakes assembly elections to analyzing administrative shifts in the Hindi heartland, Bhupendra’s reportage provides a definitive lens on the region's evolution.
Authoritativeness He leads a team of seasoned reporters and investigators, ensuring that The Indian Express’ signature "Journalism of Courage" is reflected in every regional story. His leadership is central to the Lucknow bureau’s reputation for breaking stories that hold the powerful to account, making him a trusted figure for policy analysts, political scholars, and the general public seeking to understand the nuances of UP’s complex landscape.
Trustworthiness & Accountability Under his stewardship, the Lucknow edition adheres to the strictest standards of factual verification and non-partisan reporting. He serves as a bridge between the local populace and the national discourse, ensuring that regional issues are elevated with accuracy and context. By prioritizing primary-source reporting and on-the-ground verification, he upholds the trust that readers have placed in the Express brand for nearly a century. ... Read More
