Jharkhand HC Seeks Clarification from State Election Commission on Pending Municipal Polls

Ranchi — The Jharkhand High Court on Monday directed the State Election Commission (SEC) to specify the timeline for conducting long-pending elections to municipal corporations and urban local bodies in the state.

A bench headed by Justice Ananda Sen issued the order while hearing a contempt petition filed over delays in holding the municipal elections. The court also asked the SEC to submit a detailed report outlining the proposed election schedule and to explain the causes of the delay, as well as what steps are needed from the state government to expedite the process.

The matter has been scheduled for the next hearing on November 24.

During the proceedings, Advocate General Rajiv Ranjan, representing the state government, informed the court that the government had submitted the ‘triple test’ report — related to reservation of seats for backward classes in municipal bodies — to the SEC. He added that the Commission had sought additional details, such as ward-wise reservation data and updated population figures, which the government would provide soon. The election notification, he said, would be issued thereafter.

However, Advocate Sumeet Gadodia, appearing for the SEC, stated that a complete and clear report on reservations had not yet been received from the government. He further noted that the Commission would require approximately three months to complete the election process once all necessary documents are in place.

The contempt plea was filed by former Ranchi Municipal Corporation councillor Roshni Khalkho and another petitioner, Reena Kumari, urging the court to ensure compliance with its earlier order mandating timely municipal polls.

The High Court had earlier, on January 4, 2024, directed that elections to all municipal bodies be conducted within three weeks — an order that remains unimplemented.

Jharkhand currently has 48 urban local bodies, of which elections in 12 have been pending since June 2020, while the remaining bodies saw their terms expire in April 2023. No municipal polls have been conducted in the state since 2023.

With inputs from IANS