Jharkhand High Court Orders ECI To File Affidavit On Voter List For Conducting Municipal Elections

The Jharkhand High Court has instructed the Election Commission of India to submit an affidavit within 2 weeks detailing when the updated voter list will be provided to the State Election Commission for conducting municipal elections in Jharkhand.

Justice Ananda Sen issued the order while hearing a contempt petition filed by former ward councillor Roshni Khalko. The petition was brought forward to address delays by the government in organizing the municipal elections.

During the hearing, the ECI informed the court that although a voter list had been prepared, it was outdated. In response, the court directed the ECI to clarify whether the current voter list could be used for the forthcoming elections.

The matter has been scheduled for its next hearing on February 7, 2025.

Khalko initially filed a writ petition in 2023 after the tenure of ward councillors had lapsed. On January 4, 2024, the High Court ordered the government to conduct the elections within three weeks. However, the government failed to comply, prompting Khalko to file a contempt petition.

On January 16, 2025, the High Court reiterated its directive, ordering the government to organize the elections within four months. Previously, the court had summoned Chief Secretary Alka Tiwari to personally appear in hearings concerning the delays.

This case highlights the judiciary’s efforts to uphold democratic processes and hold institutions accountable for delays in fulfilling their constitutional obligations.

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