IN THE HIGH COURT OF HIMACHAL PRADESH, SHIMLA CWP No.7754 of 2026 Decided on: 18th May, 2026 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Surat Ram and another …..Petitioners Versus State of H.P. and others .....Respondents ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Coram Ms. Justice Jyotsna Rewal Dua Whether approved for reporting?1 For the Petitioners: Mr. Vinod Chauhan, Advocate. For the Respondents: Mr. Anup Rattan, Advocate General with Mr. L.N. Sharma, Additional Advocate General, for respondents No.1, 2 and 4 to 7. Mr. Surender Sharma, Advocate, for respondent No.3. Mr. Yuyutsu Singh Thakur, Advocate, for respondent No.8. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Jyotsna Rewal Dua, Judge Learned counsel for the petitioners contends that respondent No.8 is required to be debarred from contesting elections from Gram Panchayat Patta, Development Block Kunihar, Tehsil Arki, District Solan in the ensuing elections to the State Panchayati Raj 1 Whether reporters of print and electronic media may be allowed to see the order? Yes 2 Institutions as the aforesaid respondent is an encroacher over the government land. 2. After arguing for a while, learned counsel for the petitioners sought permission to withdraw the writ petition as the petitioners intend to avail statutory remedy of filing an election petition for the redressal of their grievances in view of Section 175 read with Section 162 of the Himachal Pradesh Panchayati Raj Act, 1994. Granting such permission, the present writ petition is disposed of as withdrawn. Pending miscellaneous application(s), if any, also stand disposed of. Jyotsna Rewal Dua May 18, 2026 Judge Mukesh