Karnataka HC asks SEC to go ahead with panchayat polls after State says ward formation, reservation complete

The Karnataka High Court on Friday recorded that the State government has completed the process of creating wards and reserving seats for members in all 5,864 Gram Panchayats across the State in preparation for elections [State Election Commission Karnataka v. State of Karnataka & Anr.]..A Division Bench of Justice Anu Sivaraman and Justice TP Vivekananda noted that the necessary exercise had been completed by the State and that it was now for the State Election Commission (SEC) to take further steps towards conducting the elections.“The necessary has been done, so this has become infructuous. Now it is up to you (State Election Commission) to do the necessary,” observed the Court..The case relates to the delay in holding elections to Karnataka's Gram Panchayats. In November 2025, the SEC had approached the High Court alleging that the State government had not provided the final reservation notification required to conduct elections to around 5,950 Gram Panchayats whose terms were due to expire between December 2025 and January 2026. The previous Gram Panchayat elections in Karnataka were held in December 2020. The 5 year terms of the Panchayats expired in December 2025, according to the Union Ministry of Panchayati Raj..When the matter was heard today, Additional Advocate General (AAG) Pratima Honnapur, appearing for the State government, submitted that the petition was filed seeking directions for conducting elections to the Gram Panchayats.She said that at the previous hearing, the State had sought time to complete the exercise of ward formation and reservation and the same has now been done. Hence, the ball is now in the SEC's court and the petition itself is infructuous, it was submitted.“On the last date, we had filed an affidavit seeking time to give reservation to the wards. It has been done and we have placed the status report on record. Therefore, the petition may become infructuous, as we have now given the reservations. It is for the Election Commission to notify the dates for the Gram Panchayat (elections),” submitted AAG Honnapur.Further, the State placed on record a status report dated September 8, detailing completion of the exercise. The Court recorded the submission..“The Additional Advocate General has placed on record the status report dated September 8, 2026. The report states that the creation of wards and reservation of seats for Gram Panchayat members in respect of all 5,864 Gram Panchayats has been completed. The respective Deputy Commissioners have also intimated the State Election Commission about the completion of the exercise. The Election Commission has sought time,” the order noted.The Court accordingly posted the matter to September 17.