The Supreme Court on Friday, February 13, 2026, extended the deadline for local body elections in Himachal Pradesh from April 30 to May 31. The decision came after the Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi Bench heard a plea by the State government's principal secretary. The Court also extended the Himachal Pradesh High Court's earlier deadline for completing reconstruction work, delimitation, and reservation from February 28 to March 31. Earlier on January 9, the Himachal Pradesh High Court rejected the state government's request to delay panchayati raj body elections by six months and ordered elections before April 30. The Supreme Court agreed with the High Court that pending delimitation work cannot be used to stall polls but extended the timeline considering the hill state's monsoon-related difficulties. The Bench said, "The poll process must be concluded before May 31," keeping in mind the usual monsoon troubles faced in Himachal Pradesh. The High Court had also directed the state government and Election Commission to finish the election process by April 30 while disposing of a PIL against poll postponement. The government had cited severe damage to public and private properties due to disasters and requested to hold elections later, mentioning that the Disaster Act was active. Nevertheless, after three days of hearings, the High Court insisted on holding elections by April 30. Now, with the Supreme Court's extension, the elections will proceed by the end of May.