New Delhi

In a relief to the Himachal Pradesh government, the Supreme Court of India on Friday extended the deadline for conducting elections to rural and urban local bodies in the state by a month, setting May 31 as the final date.

A bench headed by Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi modified the order of the Himachal Pradesh High Court, which had earlier fixed April 30 as the outer limit for completing the poll process. The apex court also extended the deadline for completing reconstruction work, delimitation and reservation from February 28 to March 31.

Taking note of the plea filed by the state’s principal secretary, the bench acknowledged the logistical and administrative challenges faced by the Himachal Pradesh government and the Himachal Pradesh State Election Commission in the rain-ravaged hill state. However, it underlined that pendency of delimitation or reconstruction work cannot be used as a reason to indefinitely delay elections.

The court observed that, keeping in mind the onset of the monsoon and the difficulties it brings in the region, the entire election process must be concluded before May 31. It also made it clear that no further request for extension of time would be entertained.

Earlier, on January 9, the high court had rejected the plea of the Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu-led government seeking a six-month deferment of panchayati raj elections, and had directed that the polls be completed by April 30. The state had argued that widespread damage to infrastructure due to recent natural disasters and the enforcement of the Disaster Management Act warranted postponement.

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The five-year tenure of panchayati raj institutions in the state ended on January 31, while the term of 50 urban local bodies concluded on January 18. Himachal Pradesh has 3,577 gram panchayats, 90 panchayat samitis, 11 zila parishads and 71 urban local bodies, all of which are now required to go to the polls within the revised timeline.