Shimla
The Himachal Pradesh government has notified amendments to the Himachal Pradesh Panchayati Raj (Election) Rules, 2026, granting Deputy Commissioners (DCs) limited powers to modify reservation rosters in Panchayati Raj institutions.
According to a notification issued by the Department of Panchayati Raj on March 30, 2026, the amendments have been made after considering objections and suggestions received from the public on the draft rules published earlier this month.
As per the revised provisions, Deputy Commissioners will now have the authority to alter the roster of:
Panchayat members (Rule 28)
Pradhans of Gram Panchayats (Rule 87)
Chairpersons of Panchayat Samitis (Rule 88)
The changes can be made up to a maximum of 5% of the total seats or offices, depending on the level, and only under “geographical and other peculiar conditions.”
The government stated that the move aims to address practical challenges arising from terrain, demography, and local administrative needs, especially in a geographically diverse state like Himachal Pradesh.
The amended rules will come into force from the date of their publication in the Rajpatra (e-Gazette). These changes supersede the earlier notification issued on March 23, 2026.
Officials said the step is intended to introduce flexibility in the implementation of reservation rosters while maintaining the overall structure of the Panchayati Raj system.
The notification was issued with the approval of the Governor under the provisions of the Himachal Pradesh Panchayati Raj Act, 1994.
