Can UP finish panchayat polls by May 26? Allahabad High Court demands answers from Election Commission

The Allahabad High Court is questioning how the state will complete the election process before the current tenure ends on May 26, given that voter lists won't be ready until mid-April.

The Allahabad High Court last week directed the Uttar Pradesh State Election Commission (SEC) to produce a definitive, time-bound schedule for the upcoming panchayat elections.

The court is seeking a guarantee that the electoral process will be completed before the current five-year tenure expires in May 2026, as mandated by the Constitution.

A division bench of Justice Atul Sreedharan and Justice Siddharth Nandan issued the order while hearing a writ petition filed by Imtiaz Husain.

The bench, in its order dated March 13, directed the SEC to file a specific affidavit by the next hearing on March 25.

The high court also asked the state to ensure that either the advocate general or the additional advocate general is present at the next hearing.

The petitioner argued that under Article 243E of the Constitution, a panchayat’s term lasts exactly five years from the date of its first meeting and “no longer”.

He further submitted that the first meeting for UP gram panchayats was held on May 27, 2021, and the five-year term officially concludes on May 26 this year.

“We think it appropriate to call upon the respondent No.2 (State Election Commission) to explain whether in view of the existing notification dated 19.02.2026, they are in a position to conclude the elections as per the mandate of the Article 243E of the Constitution of India i.e.

the election ought to have been completed in the facts of the present case on or before 26.05.2026,” the bench noted.

The petition also highlighted a series of shifting deadlines that have put the constitutional mandate at risk.

According to the petitioner, voter lists were originally scheduled for publication between December 24 and 30, 2025.

A January notification pushed the date to March 20.

A recent amendment has further delayed the publication of the final voter list to April 15.

Quoting a high court order, the petitioner referred to the Election Commission’s then stand that the election would take at least 40 to 45 days to conclude.

Once the voter list is finalised, the process of reserving constituencies will also require a significant amount of time,
After hearing the submissions by the petitioner who quoted judgements of the high court directing state election commission to hold the panchayat election well before expiry of the current tenure, the bench observed, “It appears that the words used in the judgment are pertaining to Ordinance No.10 of 2000, by way of which, it has been stated that the U.P.

Panchayat Raj Act was amended”
“However, it may be clarified whether it was an ordinance as an Act, because an amendment can be made in an existing statute by way of an amending act and not by way of an ordinance.

However, we find that clause-3 was inserted by U.P.

Act No.22 of 2000.

The State may also seek clarification on the aforesaid fact.”
Bhupendra Pandey is the Resident Editor of the Lucknow edition of The Indian Express.

With decades of experience in the heart of Uttar Pradesh’s journalistic landscape, he oversees the bureau’s coverage of India’s most politically significant state.

His expertise lies in navigating the complex intersections of state governance, legislative policy, and grassroots social movements.

From tracking high-stakes assembly elections to analyzing administrative shifts in the Hindi heartland, Bhupendra’s reportage provides a definitive lens on the region's evolution.

Authoritativeness He leads a team of seasoned reporters and investigators, ensuring that The Indian Express’ signature "Journalism of Courage" is reflected in every regional story.

His leadership is central to the Lucknow bureau’s reputation for breaking stories that hold the powerful to account, making him a trusted figure for policy analysts, political scholars, and the general public seeking to understand the nuances of UP’s complex landscape.

Trustworthiness & Accountability Under his stewardship, the Lucknow edition adheres to the strictest standards of factual verification and non-partisan reporting.

He serves as a bridge between the local populace and the national discourse, ensuring that regional issues are elevated with accuracy and context.

By prioritizing primary-source reporting and on-the-ground verification, he upholds the trust that readers have placed in the Express brand for nearly a century.

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