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Politics
Patna HC says Panchayat Raj Act, not Bihar Reservation Act, governs Mukhiya election reservations
✍️ Live Law
🗓 24 Aug 2026, 02:18 PM
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The Patna High Court clarified that reservation of seats in Mukhiya (village head) elections is governed by the Panchayat Raj Act, not the Bihar Reservation Act.
The Patna High Court delivered a judgment clarifying that the reservation framework for Mukhiya elections falls under the Panchayat Raj Act, rejecting the applicability of the Bihar Reservation Act.
The bench observed that the Panchayat Raj Act explicitly prescribes reservation percentages for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and women in local body elections, whereas the Bihar Reservation Act deals with reservations in state government services and does not extend to Panchayat elections.
Accordingly, the court directed election officials to implement the reservation schedule laid down in the Panchayat Raj Act for upcoming Mukhiya polls across Bihar, ensuring compliance with constitutional mandates.
Legal analysts noted that the ruling removes the confusion that arose when some local bodies attempted to invoke the Bihar Reservation Act for Mukhiya seats, reaffirming the statutory hierarchy between state reservation legislation and local self‑government laws.
The decision is expected to be operational before the next round of Panchayat elections slated for later this year, with the State Election Commission instructed to revise its guidelines accordingly.
The bench observed that the Panchayat Raj Act explicitly prescribes reservation percentages for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and women in local body elections, whereas the Bihar Reservation Act deals with reservations in state government services and does not extend to Panchayat elections.
Accordingly, the court directed election officials to implement the reservation schedule laid down in the Panchayat Raj Act for upcoming Mukhiya polls across Bihar, ensuring compliance with constitutional mandates.
Legal analysts noted that the ruling removes the confusion that arose when some local bodies attempted to invoke the Bihar Reservation Act for Mukhiya seats, reaffirming the statutory hierarchy between state reservation legislation and local self‑government laws.
The decision is expected to be operational before the next round of Panchayat elections slated for later this year, with the State Election Commission instructed to revise its guidelines accordingly.