The Supreme Court has extended the deadline for holding rural and urban local body elections in Himachal Pradesh from 30 April to 31st of May, modifying the Himachal Pradesh High Court’s order.

A bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi also extended the 28th February deadline for completing reconstruction, delimitation and reservation work to 31st March, taking note of logistical difficulties faced by the government and the state election authorities in the rain-ravaged hill state.

The court, however, said delimitation cannot be used to stall polls and made clear no further extension would be granted.