New Delhi/Imphal | The Supreme Court on Thursday upheld the extension granted for conducting panchayat elections in Manipur, dismissing a challenge to the Manipur High Court’s order that allows the electoral process to be completed by October 16, 2026.

A partial working day Bench comprising Justices N. Kotiswar Singh and N. V. Anjaria declined to interfere with the High Court’s decision, finding no grounds to entertain the appeal filed by Pheiroijam Heramani and others against the revised election schedule.

With the dismissal of the plea, the deadline fixed by the High Court for holding the sixth general panchayat elections in the state remains in force.

During the proceedings, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing on behalf of the Manipur government, informed the apex court that the state was obligated to comply with the directions issued by the High Court. He submitted that failure to conduct the elections within the prescribed timeframe could expose the authorities to contempt proceedings.

Taking note of the submission, the Supreme Court chose not to intervene and dismissed the appeal, effectively endorsing the High Court’s timeline for the conduct of local body elections.

The Manipur High Court had, on May 19, extended the deadline for the panchayat polls, citing the exceptional circumstances prevailing in the state. The court took into account the continuing law-and-order challenges as well as the imposition of President’s Rule since February 2025 while granting additional time for the electoral exercise.

The High Court order was passed by a Bench comprising Chief Justice M. Sundar and Justice A. Guneshwar Sharma. Besides extending the timeline, the court also cleared the path for implementing a three-tier Panchayati Raj system in the state in accordance with recent legislative amendments.

The extension followed a review petition filed by the Manipur government seeking reconsideration of an earlier High Court directive issued in August 2025. In that order, the court had instructed the authorities to hold panchayat elections within six months.

The state government argued that the prevailing security situation and administrative constraints made it difficult to conduct the polls within the originally prescribed period. It urged the court to take into account the extraordinary conditions under which the administration was functioning.

Accepting the state’s contention, the High Court observed that the situation warranted special consideration. It subsequently granted the government and the State Election Commission additional time, directing that the entire electoral process be completed by October 16, 2026.

The Supreme Court’s decision now removes a significant legal hurdle and provides clarity on the timeline for the long-delayed local body elections in Manipur. The ruling is expected to enable the state administration and the State Election Commission to proceed with preparations for the polls while adhering to the deadline fixed by the High Court.