Shimla, July 1 -- The Himachal Pradesh High Court has stayed the operation of a state government notification dissolving several Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) in the tribal areas of Keylong in Lahaul and Spiti district and Pangi in Chamba district, allowing the elected representatives to continue in office until further orders.

A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice GS Sandhawalia and Justice Bipin C Negi passed the interim order while hearing petitions challenging the state government's June 24 notification that had dissolved the existing Gram Panchayats, Panchayat Samitis and Zila Parishads in the two tribal regions before completion of their five-year tenure.

The high court held that the petitioners had a vested right to comp...