India, May 6 -- The Himachal Pradesh government on Wednesday notified a landmark legislation that prohibits individuals involved in drug trafficking, specifically chitta (synthetic heroin) from contesting panchayat elections later this month.

The move follows the assent of governor Kavinder Gupta to the Himachal Pradesh Panchayati Raj Amendment Act, 2026, which introduces stringent disqualification norms for grassroots representatives.

Under the new law, any person facing trial where a court has framed charges under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, is barred from the electoral process. If an elected pradhan, up-pradhan, or ward member is charged with drug-related offences during their tenure, they will be...