Jodhpur, Jul 16 Amid the delay in holding panchayat and urban local body elections in the state, the Rajasthan High Court has asked the state government and the State Election Commission to submit a detailed schedule for holding the polls before the court by July 20.
A division bench of the high court expressed strong displeasure over the approach adopted by the State Election Commission (SEC) and the Rajasthan OBC Commission over the pending panchayat and urban local body elections.
The bench comprising acting Chief Justice S P Sharma and Justice Sanjeet Purohit ordered the SEC to announce the election dates by Monday.
Additionally, it directed the state government to submit the OBC Commission's report on reservations and announce a date for the lottery process.
State Election Commissioner Rajeshwar Singh and OBC Commission Secretary Ashok Kumar Jain attended the hearing virtually.
The court made the observations while hearing a contempt petition filed by former MLA Sanyam Lodha.
Singh told the court that they are yet to receive the OBC Commission’s report or data on SC/STs and that the election process will be initiated within seven days of receipt of the same.
The court directed the state government to apprise it of the date of the lottery for reservations, and told the OBC Commission to submit its report to the SEC by the next date of hearing, i.e., July 20.
The court directed the advocate general to apprise it of the date of the elections, the number of phases, along with the complete schedule.
On Wednesday, the state government had sought time till December to hold the elections, citing the pending OBC Commission report and other circumstances.
The matter relates to a November 14, 2025, order of the high court directing the state government to conduct panchayat and municipal elections by April 15, 2026.
However, the government moved an application before the high court seeking deferment of the polls.
During the proceedings, the state government submitted that the elections could not be conducted immediately due to the non-submission of the OBC Commission report and other prevailing circumstances.
