The Government of Himachal Pradesh on January 05, 2026, issued the Himachal Pradesh Panchayati Raj (Amendment) Act, 2025, further to amend the Himachal Pradesh Panchayati Raj Act, 1994.
The following has been stated namely: -
• The Act extensively amends Act to align it with the new central criminal laws and to strengthen Panchayati governance, accountability, penalties, and election-related provisions. Section 2 updates statutory references by replacing the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, and the Indian Penal Code, 1860, with the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.
• Section 4 inserts sub-section (4) to penalize false statements in electoral roll preparation as per Section 155.
• Section 5 rationalizes meeting procedures, reduces notice periods, introduces “special meetings,” and clarifies quorum rules, while Section 5-B changes the date of Gram Sabha from 8 March to the first Sunday of February.
• Section 7-A mandates inviting the Pradhan as a special invitee to Up-Gram Sabha meetings, and Section 9 removes the requirement that meetings “shall be public.
• Procedural and penal provisions are strengthened through Sections 31, 32, 33, 38, 39, 40, and 41, which update criminal law references and substantially enhance fines and penalties (e.g., higher maximum fines under Sections 33, 39, and enhanced penalties under Section 41).
• Sections 152, 155, 158-R, 160, 160-A, 161, 167, 169, 172, 186, and 190 update offences, penalties, appointments, evidentiary references, and definitions consistent with new central laws.
The detailed notification is attached below.
[Notification no. - LLRD (6)-22/2025-Leg]
