In Prayagraj, the Allahabad High Court has taken a firm stand regarding the three-tier panchayat elections in Uttar Pradesh. The court has criticized the state government's decision to appoint village heads as administrators following the conclusion of their official terms. While hearing a petition challenging this administrative move, Justice Siddhartha Nandan's single bench stated that village heads cannot be permitted to continue serving in the capacity of administrators. While no interim stay has been imposed on the government's order yet, the court has made its displeasure clear regarding the current arrangement.
Concerns over contempt of court
During the proceedings, the court observed that appointing village heads as administrators violates previous division bench orders, effectively amounting to contempt of court. The state government has been directed to submit a detailed affidavit incorporating the report from the OBC Commission. Furthermore, the court mandated that if a commission has been constituted, all relevant details must be provided, along with a clear timeline for the completion of the election process. This has been termed as the final opportunity for the government to present its position.
State Election Commission's readiness
During the hearing, the counsel for the State Election Commission informed the court that the electoral rolls were published on June 10, 2026. The commission declared that it is fully prepared to conduct the polls, and the delay is solely due to the lack of necessary logistical arrangements provided by the state government. Conversely, the additional standing counsel for the state government argued that an OBC commission has been formed to determine reservation based on population data collected from various districts. They maintained that this process requires additional time to complete.
Petitioner's demand and next steps
The petition was filed by Arvind Rathore, who has demanded the removal of these administrators and the urgent conduct of three-tier panchayat elections. It is notable that the term of the panchayats in Uttar Pradesh expired on May 26, 2026, leading to the government's subsequent order appointing village heads as temporary administrators. The court will continue to hear the matter on July 13 at 2:00 PM to decide the next course of action.
