Himachal Pradesh High Court Orders Fresh Panchayat Roster, LoP Jai Ram Thakur Welcomes Verdict

In a significant development ahead of the panchayat elections, the Himachal Pradesh High Court has struck down the state government’s decision to allow Deputy Commissioners to determine the 5% reservation roster. The court has also directed authorities to issue a fresh roster, ensuring compliance with constitutional provisions.

Reacting to the verdict, Leader of the Opposition Jai Ram Thakur welcomed the decision, calling it a “necessary correction” to protect democratic processes at the grassroots level.

Thakur did not hold back in criticizing Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, accusing him of repeatedly attempting to influence panchayat elections despite facing legal setbacks.

“The Chief Minister is facing repeated setbacks in court, yet continues to interfere in the electoral process,” Thakur said, adding that such actions undermine the integrity of local governance.

According to Thakur, the Opposition had strongly objected to the decision from the very beginning. He recalled protests inside the Assembly on the day the move was passed, warning the government of legal consequences if it failed to withdraw what he described as an “unconstitutional decision.”

He further emphasized that the move violated Article 243(D) of the Constitution of India, which governs reservation policies in panchayati raj institutions.

“The government should have respected constitutional provisions instead of pushing forward a flawed decision,” Thakur stated.

The Opposition leader also alleged that the state government had consistently created hurdles in conducting timely panchayat elections. He claimed that measures such as invoking the Disaster Management Act were used to delay the electoral process.

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