Allahabad High Court orders UP to hold panchayat elections in three months

The Allahabad High Court has ordered the Uttar Pradesh government and the State Election Commission to conduct Gram Panchayat elections within three months. A division bench comprising Justice Ajit Kumar and Justice Garima Prasad delivered the verdict following the hearing of 11 petitions that challenged delays in the electoral process.

The court ruled that outgoing Gram Pradhans (village heads) will continue to serve as administrators during this three-month interim period to ensure the continuity of administrative functions in villages. The bench upheld the government's decision to appoint these administrators, dismissing petitions that had challenged the legality of such appointments after the expiration of previous terms.

Regarding reservation policies, the court clarified that the election process will proceed under existing rules and the 27 per cent reservation system. While the Other Backward Classes (OBC) Commission may continue its ongoing work, the court specified that the completion of the commission's tasks will not delay the election timeline.