Himachal Pradesh State Election Commission has imposed a freeze on any changes to the structure, classification, or boundaries of panchayats and municipalities until the completion of the election process, enforcing a key provision of the model code of conduct across the state.
The commission issued a notification on Monday prohibiting the government from undertaking panchayat reorganization, with strict compliance orders issued to all departments and administrative officers. The full model code of conduct will come into effect once the election schedule is announced.
According to the election commission, delimitation has been completed and notified for 3,577 gram panchayats, 90 panchayat samitis, 11 zila parishads, and 71 urban local bodies. Electoral rolls for 3,548 gram panchayats and 70 urban local bodies have been finalized following due legal process.
The remaining 29 gram panchayats and one urban local body will have their voter lists finalized on December 12 and December 7 respectively.
The commission referenced Supreme Court directions in Special Leave Petition numbers 22468 and 22469/2024, which explicitly mandate that the constitutional framework requires election processes to commence six months before the expiry of the five-year term envisaged under Articles 243E(1) and 243U of the Constitution of India.
The term of panchayati raj institutions expires on January 31, 2025. For urban local bodies, 50 municipalities will complete their term on January 18, while four municipal corporations—Dharamshala, Palampur, Mandi, and Solan—reach the end of their tenure on April 13.
State Election Commission Secretary Surjit Singh Rathore issued the notification stating that with less than 75 days remaining for panchayati raj institutions and approximately 60 days for most urban local bodies, no changes to structure, classification, or boundaries can be permitted until elections are concluded.
The commission had previously informed the state government through letters in May, July 4, and July 28 that municipal boundaries would stabilize once final delimitation notifications were issued for wards. The freeze ensures electoral integrity during the crucial pre-election period as authorities prepare to conduct polls across thousands of local governance bodies statewide.
