Himachal govt withdraws disaster management order

Shimla: The Himachal Pradesh govt has withdrawn its Oct 8, 2025, order invoking the Disaster Management Act, paving the way for timely elections for the panchayati raj instituitions (PRIs) in the state. The move came following directions from the supreme court to complete all preparatory processes and hold elections by May 31.Earlier, the state deferred PRI elections, citing connectivity issues in hill regions after the monsoon disaster in the state last year, to ensure smooth polling for voters and staff. A public interest litigation prompted the Himachal Pradesh high court on Jan 9 to direct the state govt to complete reconstitution processes for PRIs and urban local bodies by February 28, 2026, and conduct elections within 8 weeks, before April 30.
The Supreme Court later in Feb extended the pending process completion date to March 31 and directed the state to complete elections by May 31. With improved road connectivity and compliance with court orders, chief secretary Sanjay Gupta officially withdrew the disaster management order, clearing the path for elections. MSID: 129088899 413 |