Hold GP, ZP polls within 6 months : HC to Govt
Appointments of Admn Comms set aside
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 29 2025: A division bench of the High Court of Manipur has directed the State to conduct fresh elections of Gram Panchayats and Zilla Parishads within a period of 6 months.

This direction was given by a division bench of the High Court comprising Chief Justice K Somashekar and Justice A Guneshwar Sharma while hearing a writ petition today.

While directing the State to conduct fresh elections of the local bodies within a period of six months, the division bench also set aside appointments of the Administrative Committees of the Gram Panchayats and Administrators of Zilla Parishads for a term exceeding a period of 6 (six) months/till election.

Notably, the tenure of the Members of the Panchayats elected in 2017 had expired in 2022.In the absence of elections, the State Cabinet had taken a decision on January 2, 2023 for appointment of Administrative Committees for the Gram Panchayats.

Following the Cabinet decision, Deputy Commissioners of six valley districts were appointed as Administrators of Zilla Parishads in their respective areas.

During the hearing today, the division bench of the High Court observed that the term of a Gram Panchayat cannot exceed the period of 5 years as mandated by Article 243E of the Constitution of India and Section 20 of the Manipur Panchayati Raj Act, 1994 .

The bench further observed that the State authority has no power to appoint an Administrative Committee beyond the period of 6 months/or till the elections are notified.

The bench then set aside all orders of appointments of the Administrative Committees of the Gram Panchayats and Administrators for Zilla Parishads for a term exceeding the period of 6 (six) months/till the election are held.

The State Government shall conduct fresh elections within a period of 6 months.

Till the next election is conducted, the State Government is at liberty to appoint fresh Administrative Committees for the Gram Panchayats and Administrators for Zilla Parishads for a period not exceeding 6 months, said the bench.

Meanwhile, this order of the High Court of Manipur annulling the appointment of Administrative Committees and Administrators has been hailed as a landmark judgement.

The High Court cancelling the appointment of the Administrative Committees and Administrators by the previous Government is a landmark judgement that would save democracy, said Pheiroijam Heramani, chairman of Ad-hoc Committee of All Manipur Elected PRI of 2017 speaking to reporters at Manipur Press Club, Imphal.

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