Nainital — The Uttarakhand High Court’s stay on the upcoming three-tier panchayat elections will remain in effect for now. A detailed hearing on the matter, including petitions seeking to vacate the stay, has been scheduled before the division bench of the Chief Justice on Wednesday afternoon.
Today the state government presented the case before the Chief Justice’s bench, requesting early consideration. Taking note of the seriousness and urgency of the matter, the bench has clubbed all related petitions for a consolidated hearing tomorrow.
The legal challenge stems from petitions filed by Ganesh Dutt Kandpal, a resident of Bageshwar, and others. The petitioners have contested the state government’s order dated June 9, 2025, which introduced new rules governing the three-tier panchayat elections. Additionally, they have opposed a subsequent government order dated June 11 that cancels the existing reservation rotation system and initiates a new rotation process effective this year.
The petitioners argue that these changes violate previous directions issued by the High Court and allege a lack of transparency in the newly framed reservation guidelines.
The High Court will take up the matter for comprehensive hearing on Wednesday, where all aspects of the issue, including the validity of the new rules and the plea to lift the stay, will be examined.