Shimla, Oct. 15 -- The Himachal Pradesh High Court has directed the appellate authority to decide within 10 weeks whether an election petition challenging the election of a Gram Panchayat Pradhan in Chamba district was filed beyond the prescribed limitation period.

Justice Sandeep Sharma, while disposing of a writ petition filed by Santosh Kumari, directed the Deputy Commissioner, Chamba, to hear both parties and decide the legal issue of limitation expeditiously, preferably within 10 weeks.

The dispute relates to the election of the Pradhan of Gram Panchayat Thakrimatti in Salooni tehsil of Chamba district, held on May 26, 2021. Santosh Kumari was declared elected after securing 597 votes, while her rival, respondent No. 10, received 5...