Shimla, August 15
Himachal Pradesh High Court has stayed the State government’s decision to convene the first meetings of newly elected Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) in Keylong and Pangi in June, holding that the move adversely affected the rights of the existing elected representatives whose tenure was due to end in October 2026.
A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice G.S. Sandhawalia and Justice Bipin C. Negi passed the order in CWP No. 10322 of 2026, filed by Deepak Chauhan and others against the State government and other respondents.
The court noted that the State had initially issued a notification on June 6, 2026, providing that the first meeting of the newly elected Gram Panchayats and Panchayat Samitis in Sub-Division Keylong of Lahaul and Spiti and Pangi of Chamba, along with the Zila Parishad of Lahaul and Spiti, would be held on October 18.
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However, through a subsequent notification dated June 24, the government advanced the first meetings to June 27. The court observed that this change was detrimental to the interests of the existing Panchayati Raj representatives.
The petitioners contended that their five-year tenure was to expire only on October 17, 2026, and that the newly elected bodies had been constituted following elections held on May 26, 28 and 30. They argued that the State could not curtail their tenure by convening the meetings of successor bodies several months earlier.
The State relied on Section 120(4) of the Himachal Pradesh Panchayati Raj Act, inserted in January 2026, arguing that the term of Panchayats constituted later could run concurrently with other Panchayats in the State.
The High Court, however, held that the petitioners had a vested right to continue in office and stayed the June 24 notification and its subsequent modification. It directed that the petitioners and similarly situated persons be allowed to continue till further orders.
The matter has been listed for September 30, 2026.
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