Rajasthan Municipal Elections Will Be Completed By April 2026, State Assures Supreme Court

The Supreme Court on Friday recorded the Rajasthan government's assurance that elections to urban local bodies in the State will not be postponed beyond April 2026, while declining to interfere with a Rajasthan High Court order permitting the polls to be held within that timeline.

A Bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice Vipul Pancholi was hearing a plea filed by Congress leader and former MLA Sanyam Lodha, challenging the High Court's order which allowed the State to complete the municipal elections by April 2026. Lodha had sought immediate conduct of the elections, alleging undue delay in the electoral process.

During the hearing, the CJI noted that the delimitation exercise for municipal wards was nearing completion and that the High Court had already issued directions to complete the process by April 15, 2026. “It seems to us that the delimitation exercise is nearing completion and the High Court has issued directions to complete the exercise by April 15, 2026. We see no reason to entertain this SLP,” the Bench observed.

The petitioner, however, expressed apprehension that the elections could be delayed again despite the High Court's directions. Responding to this concern, Additional Solicitor General KM Nataraj, appearing for the State, assured the Court that the process would be completed within the stipulated timeframe. He submitted that the elections would be held by April 30, 2026.

Recording this submission, the CJI observed that there was no reason for the Supreme Court to interfere at this stage, particularly when the High Court had already notified the timeline for completion of the exercise. The Bench added that in the event of any delay beyond the assured period, either party would be at liberty to approach the High Court for appropriate relief.

With these observations, the Supreme Court declined to entertain the plea, effectively upholding the High Court's directions and the State's assurance on the conduct of municipal elections in Rajasthan.

Case : SANYAM LODHA v. STATE OF RAJASTHAN | SLP(C) No. 36874/2025