2026:HHC:15803 IN THE HIGH COURT OF HIMACHAL PRADESH, SHIMLA CWP No.5202 of 2024 Date of decision: 11.05.2026 Manju ...Petitioner. Versus State of Himachal Pradesh & Ors. …Respondents. Coram Hon’ble Mr. Justice Vivek Singh Thakur, Judge. Hon’ble Mr. Justice Ranjan Sharma, Judge. Whether approved for reporting?1 For the petitioner : Mr. Nimish Gupta, Advocate. For the respondents : Mr. Anup Rattan, Advocate General with Mr. Sushant Keprate, Additional Advocate General, for respondents No.1, 2 & 4. Mr. Surender Sharma, Advocate, for respondent No.3. Vivek Singh Thakur, Judge The present petition has been preferred against the roster issued by the respondent vide notification dated 07.04.2026, whereby, for the post of Gram Panchayat Koti Utarou has been reserved for Scheduled Caste Category, on the grounds that population of Scheduled Caste Category in Gram Panchayat Koti Utarou is 25.49, whereas there are other six Panchayats having population of Scheduled Caste Category more than Gram Panchayat Koti Utarou, which are Kando Bhatnol, Jarwa Juneli, Loja Manal, Dahar, Ajroli and 1Whether the reporters of the local papers may be allowed to see the Judgment? -2- Koti Bounch, which have more population of Scheduled Castes than the Gram Panchayat Koti Utarou, and therefore, it has been contended that either of those Panchayats should have been reserved for Scheduled Caste Category and present Gram Panchayat Koti Utarou should have been made available as unreserved seat for the post of Pradhan. 2. Perusal of the information placed on record by the respondent-State indicates that for the post of Pradhan Gram Panchayat Koti Utarou in the year 2015 was unreserved open for all, in 2020 it was reserved for Scheduled Caste women and in 2026 it was reserved for Scheduled Caste Category. Whereas, Gram Panchayat, Kando Bhatnol in 2015 was reserved for Scheduled Caste women and in 2020 it was reserved for OBC women, Gram Panchayat Jarwas Juneli in 2015 was reserved for Scheduled Caste women and in 2020 it was reserved for OBC women, Gram Panchayat Loja Manal in 2015 was reserved for OBC women and 2020 it was reserved for women, Gram Panchayat Dahar in 2015 was reserved for Scheduled Caste women and in 2020 it was reserved for women, Gram Panchayat Ajroli in 2015 was reserved for Scheduled Caste women and in 2020 it was reserved for women and Koti Bounch was reserved in 2015 for OBC and in 2020 it was reserved for Scheduled Caste women and these all six Panchayats this time has been made available to the post of Pradhan in the unreserved category. There is no repetition of -3- reservation roster to the post of Pradhan in the Panchayats in reference. 3. We find no irregularity or illegality in determining the roster to the post of Pradhan of Gram panchayat Koti Utarou, which on the previous elections was available for the unreserved category. 4. Learned counsel for the petitioner has referred the judgment passed by Hon’ble Apex Court in Civil Appeal No.5707 of 2023 (@ Special Leave Petition (Civil) No.18727 of 2023), titled as Union Territory of Ladakh & Ors. Vs. Jaamu & Kashmir National Conference & Anr., reported as 2023 Live Law (SC) 749. We are of the considered opinion, that at this stage, this judgment is of no help to the petitioner particularly in the facts and attending circumstances of the case narrated hereinabove. 5. Issues not discussed and/or adjudicated, are kept open to be adjudicated in appropriate proceedings. Accordingly, the petition is dismissed in aforesaid terms along with pending application(s), if any. (Vivek Singh Thakur) Judge (Ranjan Sharma) Judge 11th May, 2026 (Kiran)