Civic polls: Jharkhand High Court rejects SEC’s plea for three-month extension

The Jharkhand High Court has taken a stern view of the delay in conducting municipal elections and rejected the State Election Commission’s request seeking three months’ time to hold the polls. The court has directed that elections be conducted within the minimum possible time and fixed November 10 as the next date of hearing.

Advocate Dheeraj Kumar informed that the court made its position clear, refusing to accept the Commission’s plea for more time and insisting that the poll process be expedited. During the hearing, the state government submitted its report in a sealed cover before the court. However, the bench returned the report without opening it and directed the government to present it during the next hearing.

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Since a Cabinet meeting was scheduled for the same day, the court permitted the Chief Secretary, Home Secretary, and Urban Development Secretary to attend the meeting, following a request from Advocate General Rajiv Ranjan. The officials have been asked to be present in person during the next hearing on November 10.

On September 10, the High Court had expressed strong displeasure over the continued delay in holding the municipal polls and had ordered framing of charges against officials for contempt of court. Contempt notices were subsequently issued to all officials concerned. The case is based on a contempt petition filed by Roshni Khalkho and others, who alleged deliberate non-compliance with the court’s earlier orders on conducting urban local body elections.

The pending civic polls cover major urban areas across Jharkhand, including Ranchi, Hazaribag, Medininagar, Dhanbad, Giridih, Deoghar, Chas, Adityapur, and Mango municipal corporations; Garhwa, Bishrampur, Chaibasa, Jhumri Telaiya, Chakradharpur, Chatra, Chirkunda, Dumka, Pakur, Godda, Gumla, Jugsalai, Kapali, Lohardaga, Simdega, Madhupur, Ramgarh, Sahibganj, Phusro, and Mihijam municipal councils; and Banshidhar Nagar, Majhianv, Hussainabad, Hariharganj, Chhatarpur, Latehar, Koderma, Domchanch, Barki Saraiya, Dhanwar, Mahagama, Rajmahal, Barharwa, Basukinath, Jamtara, Bundu, Khunti, Seraikela, and Chakulia nagar panchayats.

With the court’s refusal to grant additional time, the State Election Commission will now have to accelerate its preparations to meet the court’s directive and ensure timely conduct of civic body elections across the state.