HC Questions UP Govt on Extension of Gram Pradhan Tenures; Demands Panchayat Election Roadmap by July 13

PRAYAGRAJ — The Allahabad High Court has strongly questioned the Uttar Pradesh government’s decision to extend the tenures of gram pradhans and appoint them as administrators following the expiration of their elected terms.

Observing that gram pradhans cannot function as administrators under statutory provisions that have previously been declared unconstitutional, the high court has directed the state government to submit a clear, definitive roadmap for conducting the three-tier panchayat elections by July 13.

Constitutional Deadline and Delays

The directive was issued during the hearing of a petition challenging the state government's orders that extended the village heads' terms. The petitioner argued that under constitutional mandates, panchayat elections cannot be legally postponed beyond six months after the official end of an elected body's tenure.

During the proceedings, the State Election Commission (SEC) distanced itself from the delay, informing the court that it is fully prepared to conduct the polls. The SEC stated that the updated electoral rolls had already been finalized and published on June 10. According to the Commission, the timeline has lagged solely because the state government has yet to complete the necessary administrative arrangements.

High Court Seeks Affidavit, Warns Top Official

Taking a strict view of the administrative bottleneck, the High Court has sought a detailed affidavit from the Principal Secretary of the Panchayati Raj Department. The court has demanded a comprehensive legal explanation justifying the decision to keep expired gram pradhans in power under the guise of administrators.

The division bench cautioned that if the state government fails to provide a legally sound and satisfactory explanation by the next hearing, the Principal Secretary may be summoned to appear in person before the court.

This ongoing legal battle is expected to heavily influence the immediate timeline, delimitation exercises, and overall legal framework governing local body governance across Uttar Pradesh.