THE JHARKHAND STORY DESK
Ranchi, Jan 16: The Jharkhand High Court on Thursday directed the Hemant Soren-led government to ensure municipal elections are conducted within four months (by May 2025).
Justice Ananda Sen issued the directive in response to a contempt petition filed by outgoing Ranchi Municipal Corporation councillor Roshni Khalkho and others.
Failure to comply with earlier HC order
The court expressed concern over the government’s failure to comply with its earlier order, dated January 4, 2024, which required election dates to be announced within three weeks.
Officials, including Chief Secretary Alka Tiwari and Urban Development Secretary Sunil Kumar, appeared in person during the proceedings.
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Govt cites pending reservation process
Government representatives attributed the delay to pending reservations for backward classes in municipal bodies. They informed the court that the triple-test process to determine the reservation percentages is nearly complete at the district level, with only a few districts remaining.
Additionally, they cited delays in receiving the voter list from the Election Commission of India as another reason for postponing the elections.
Petitioners demand contempt action
Petitioners, however, argued that elections could proceed without finalizing the triple-test process, referencing a Supreme Court ruling that prohibits delaying elections solely for determining reservation quotas. They accused the state government of deliberately stalling the process and called for contempt action.
The High Court had already criticized the government on January 13 for failing to conduct the elections, stating that the triple-test process cannot justify the delay.
The tenure of all municipal bodies in Jharkhand ended in April 2023, with elections originally due by April 27, 2023. The prolonged delay prompted judicial intervention to address the matter.
