The scheduled panchayat elections in Rajasthan are facing a potential delay as the Other Backward Classes (OBC) Commission has flagged significant discrepancies in the population data provided by the state authorities, while while the Rajasthan High Court had previously directed the state government to conduct the elections by April 15, 2026, the delay in finalizing the OBC reservation report has created an administrative bottleneck. The commission has formally communicated these concerns to Chief Secretary V, while srinivas, highlighting that the current data is insufficient for determining ward-wise reservations.
Data Discrepancies and Commission's Formal Objection
In a letter addressed to the Chief Secretary, the OBC Commission stated that the numbers provided by the Jan Aadhaar Authority regarding the backward class population are incomplete and erroneous. According to the commission, it's impossible to determine the reservation of seats for OBC ward members based on these figures. The commission has requested that all District Collectors be instructed to provide accurate and verified data to ensure a fair reservation process. The commission also noted that information regarding SC and ST reservations at the panchayat level remains unclear.
Inconsistencies in Population Figures
The commission's report points out glaring inconsistencies in the demographic data of several gram panchayats. Specifically, 403 gram panchayats have been shown to have zero total and OBC population. On top of that, 118 panchayats reportedly have a population between 1 and 500, while 266 panchayats show a population between 501 and 1000. These figures contradict the Panchayati Raj Department's own guidelines, which mandate that a panchayat must consist of a population exceeding 1200. The commission emphasized that such flawed data prevents the accurate calculation of political representation.
High Court Directives and Legal Timeline
On November 14, the Rajasthan High Court, while deciding on approximately 439 petitions, ordered the state government to complete panchayat and municipal elections by April 15, 2026. The court had set a deadline of December 31 for the delimitation process. However, the OBC Commission, which was tasked with providing the basis for political reservation, has already seen its tenure extended three times. With the current deadline of March 31 approaching, the lack of verified data has raised questions about whether the commission can submit its report on time.
Government Strategy and Legal Options
Legal experts suggest that the state government may have to approach the court again if the OBC report isn't finalized. The government could argue that additional time is required to ensure the constitutional rights of the OBC category aren't compromised due to inaccurate data. This situation mirrors the government's recent move to file a Special Leave Petition (SLP) in the Supreme Court regarding 113 urban local bodies, where it sought more time due to errors in the ward delimitation process identified by the High Court.
Background of the OBC Commission
The Rajasthan State OBC (Political Representation) Commission was constituted on May 9, 2025, by the Social Justice and Empowerment Department. Led by retired Judge Madan Bhati, the commission includes four other members. While Minister of State for Panchayati Raj, Otaram Dewasi, maintained that the government intends to follow the High Court's orders, he declined to comment specifically on the internal challenges faced by the OBC Commission. The commission's inability to meet previous deadlines has already led to multiple extensions of its working period.