Uttarakhand High Court
Smt. Bhagwati Devi vs District Election Officer/ District ... on 19 February, 2026
Author: Alok Kumar Verma
Bench: Alok Kumar Verma
2026:UHC:1101
IN THE HIGH COURT OF UTTARAKHAND
AT NAINITAL
THE HON'BLE SRI JUSTICE ALOK KUMAR VERMA
19TH FEBRUARY, 2026
WRIT PETITON NO.370 of 2026 (M/S)
Smt. Bhagwati Devi .....Petitioner
Versus
District Election Officer/ District Magistrate, Almora and
Others ....Respondents
Counsel for the Petitioner: Mr. Bhupendra Prasad,
Advocate holding brief of
Mr. M.C. Upadhyay,
Advocate.
Counsel for the Respondent : Mr. Sanjay Bhatt,
Nos.1 to 3 Advocate.
Hon'ble Alok Kumar Verma,J.
This writ petition has been filed under Article 227 of the Constitution of India with the following prayers:-
"(i) Issue a writ, order or direction in the nature of mandamus directing the Learned Court concerned i.e. Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Tehsil Bhikiyasain, District Almora to decide the Election Petition No. 12 of 2024-2025 "Smt. Bhagwati Devi Vs District Election Officer/District Magistrate Almora & Others" filed by the petitioner relating to the post of Gram Pradhan, Gram Panchayat Bajan, within a fixed and time-
bound period, preferably within such period as this Hon'ble Court may deem fit.
(ii) Issue any other writ, order or direction which this Hon'ble Court may deem fit and proper in the circumstances of the case.
(iii) To award the cost of petition in favor of petitioner."
2. Heard Mr. Bhupendra Prasad, learned counsel 1 2026:UHC:1101 appearing for the petitioner and Mr. Sanjay Bhatt, learned counsel for the respondent nos.1 to 3.
3. On 18.02.2026, Mr. Sanjay Bhatt, Advocate, appearing for the respondent nos.1 to 3, sought time to get instructions.
4. Mr. Bhupendra Prasad, learned counsel appearing for the petitioner, on instruction, has requested to direct the Prescribed Authority/ Sub-Divisional - Magistrate, Tehsil Bhikiyasen, District Almora to decide the election petition expeditiously.
5. The said request has not been opposed by Mr. Sanjay Bhatt, Advocate.
6. The present Writ Petition is being disposed of on the request of both the parties by directing the Prescribed Authority/ Sub-Divisional - Magistrate, Tehsil Bhikiyasen, District Almora to decide the Election Petition No.12 of 2024-2025 as early as possible without granting any unnecessary adjournment to either of the parties.
7. It is made clear that this Court has not expressed any opinion on the merit of the case.
__________________ ALOK KUMAR VERMA, J.
Date: 19.02.2026 Pant/ 2