The Himachal Pradesh State Election Commission has announced that individuals who have encroached on government land or are involved in corruption and drug trafficking will be disqualified from contesting in the upcoming panchayat elections. This decision aims to ensure that elected representatives maintain a clean image. The panchayati raj department is currently compiling a list of members facing allegations, and if a person's name appears on a revenue record for encroachment, they will be deemed ineligible to run. Furthermore, no family member of the disqualified individual will be allowed to contest. This initiative follows a bill passed during the recent Budget Session, which prohibits candidates charge-sheeted for trafficking substances like chitta or heroin from participating in elections. The bill has been sent to the governor for approval. The directive aligns with a May 2025 ruling by the Himachal Pradesh High Court, which clarified that the right to contest elections is not absolute and is subject to eligibility conditions. Election officers have been instructed to rigorously scrutinize nomination papers and require candidates to disclose any instances of encroachment or applications for regularization.