Ranchi- Jharkhand’s long-delayed elections for all 48 municipal corporations and urban local bodies are expected to be completed by March next year. The Hemant Soren government informed the High Court on Monday that it has finalized all arrangements for the polls.
During the hearing, the State Election Commission (SEC) submitted a sealed timeline to the High Court.
The state government informed the bench that it has completed all procedural requirements and provided all relevant documents — including OBC reservation records and population figures — to the Commission.
Advocate General Rajiv Ranjan told the court that the SEC no longer requires any further information from the state.
The SEC informed the court that it needs at least eight weeks to complete preparations. Once ready, the poll notification will be issued, and the election process will be completed within 45 days.
Considering the submission, the High Court directed the Commission to conduct the elections as per the timeline. The next hearing is scheduled for March 30.
The directive came while hearing a contempt petition filed by Roshni Khalkho and Reena Kumari, who sought implementation of the court’s earlier order mandating timely civic elections.
Advocate Vinod Kumar Singh appeared for the petitioners, while Advocate Sumit Gadodia represented the SEC.
The SEC also assured the court that all government procedures are complete and that it will now proceed with issuing the election notification and initiating the poll process.
The term of all municipal bodies in Jharkhand expired in April 2023. Elections planned for April 27, 2023, were postponed due to the incomplete “triple test” required for determining OBC reservation quotas.
Since then, municipal corporations, municipalities, councils, and nagar panchayats have been administered by government-appointed officials, leaving the state without elected municipal representatives for over two years.
No civic elections have taken place in Jharkhand since 2023.
With inputs from IANS