Himachal Pradesh Government Challenges High Court Order on Local Body Elections in Supreme Court

The Himachal Pradesh government has filed a Special Leave Petition in the Supreme Court challenging the High Court's January 9 order to conduct panchayat and urban local body elections before April 30. The government cites legal issues including the ongoing applicability of the Disaster Management Act and a prior High Court ruling. Opposition leader Jai Ram Thakur criticized the government for delaying elections, alleging political motives and warning of impacts on development and central scheme implementation without elected local bodies.