Rajasthan local body polls: Ex-MLA files caveat in SC over HC order
Jaipur, May 27
Former Rajasthan MLA and petitioner in the Panchayat and Urban Local Body elections case, Sanyam Lodha, on Wednesday filed a caveat petition in the Supreme Court concerning the Rajasthan High Court's recent judgment directing the state to conduct local body and Panchayat elections by July 31, 2026.
Through the caveat, Lodha has requested that if the Rajasthan government or the State Election Commission files an appeal against the High Court's order, no decision should be passed by the Supreme Court without first hearing his side.
The development comes after the Rajasthan High Court, in its order dated May 22, directed the state government to complete Panchayat and Urban Local Body elections by July 31 and instructed the OBC Commission to submit its report by June 20.
Earlier, while deciding 439 petitions on November 14, 2025, the High Court had ordered the state government to conduct the elections by April 15, 2026.
However, the elections were not held within the stipulated period, following which the state government sought additional time from the court.
During the proceedings, the state government cited the pending OBC Commission report and prevailing circumstances as reasons for postponing the elections.
On the other hand, petitioners Sanyam Lodha and Girraj Singh Devanda said that the state government had been deliberately delaying the electoral process for nearly one-and-a-half years.
In its observations, the High Court said that weather-related reasons such as heat or rain could not be accepted as grounds for delaying elections in Rajasthan.
The court emphasised that conducting elections is a statutory and mandatory obligation of the government and asserted that delays on the part of the OBC Commission should not become an impediment to the democratic process.
Following the High Court's directive, there is a possibility that the state government or the State Election Commission may move the Supreme Court challenging the order, officials said.
— IANS
Reader Comments
I understand the need for OBC reservation, but using it to stall elections seems like an excuse. The court's July 31 deadline is clear. Hope the Supreme Court doesn't give more extensions—our panchayats have been without elected representatives for too long. 😤
Sanyam Lodha filing a caveat shows he's serious about getting elections done. The state government can't keep using the OBC Commission as a shield. If the High Court says conduct elections by July 31, then do it. Enough of this delay for political convenience.
It's interesting to see the judiciary stepping in to enforce democratic processes in India. From abroad, this looks like a healthy check on executive power. The court's stance on mandatory elections regardless of weather or pending reports sets a good precedent.
I hope the Supreme Court respects the High Court's order and doesn't give in to government pressure. Local body elections are crucial for development at the village level. The delay only hurts common people who need local leaders for basic issues like water, roads, and sanitation. 🙏
While I agree with the court that elections must happen, I think the government's concern about OBC reservation isn't entirely baseless. But using it to delay for so long is not justified. A balanced approach would be to have elections with existing reservation quotas and then update them later.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.