Where municipal elections for the posts of Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson cannot be concluded due to disturbances or legal interruptions, the appropriate course of action is to conduct a re-election in accordance with the statutory provisions of the governing Municipalities Act.

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IN THE HIGH COURT FOR THE STATE OF TELANGANA AT

HYDERABAD

THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE N.V.SHRAVAN KUMAR

WRIT PETITION Nos.5470 and 6248 of 2026

DATE OF ORDER: 03.03.2026

W.P.No.5470 of 2026

Between:

Tekula Sudarshan Reddy, S/o. Sathireddy

...Petitioner

AND

State Election Commission of Telangana,

Rep. by its Commissioner,

Hyderabad, Telangana & 3 others

...Respondents

AND

W.P.No.6248 of 2026

Between:

Mutyala Shyamala, W/o.Mutyala Bhaskar

...Petitioner

AND

State Election Commission of Telangana,

Rep. by its Commissioner,

Hyderabad, Telangana & 4 others

...Respondents

COMMON ORDER:

W.P. No.5470 of 2026 is filed seeking a declaration that the

petitioner be declared as duly elected Chairperson of the 4th

2

respondent Municipality pursuant to the election conducted on

17.02.2026, and further direct the 3rd respondent to conduct

election to the post of Vice-Chairperson.

2. W.P. No. 6248 of 2026 is filed questioning the action of the

3rd respondent in not conducting the election for the post of

Vice-Chairperson of the 4th respondent Municipality, despite the

petitioner being an aspirant and having majority support as

being illegal, arbitrary, and contrary to Section 20 of the

Telangana Municipalities Act, 2019 and the Telangana

Municipalities (Conduct of Election of Chairperson and

Vice-Chairperson of Municipal Council and Deputy Mayor of

Municipal Corporation) Rules, 2020, with a consequential prayer

seeking direction to 3rd respondent to conduct the election to

the post of Vice-Chairperson of the 4th respondent Municipality.

3. Since the issues and facts that arise for consideration are

common, both the writ petitions are heard together and disposed

of by way of this common order.

W.P. No.5470 of 2026 is taken as lead matter and the brief

facts of the case are as follows:

4. The 4th respondent issued a notification dated 28.01.2026

for conduct of Municipality elections. Elections were held on

3

11.02.2026. The petitioner submits that he was elected as Ward

Member No.9 of the 4th respondent Municipality and took oath

on 16.02.2026. On the same day, a meeting was scheduled for

conduct of election to the posts of Chairperson and Vice-

Chairperson. Admittedly, 24 members were elected for the 4th

respondent Municipality. Out of them, 13 members belong to

BRS party, 8 members belong to Congress party, 2 members

belong to BJP party, and 1 is an Independent. It is submitted

that one BJP member and the Independent member extended

support to BRS party. The petitioner belongs to BRS party and

19^th ward member and was elected representing BRS party.

On 16.02.2026, when the meeting was convened, since the

elected ward member of Ward No.19 did not attend, the election

was postponed to 17.02.2026. On 17.02.2026, a Habeas Corpus

Writ Petition, vide W.P. No.4958 of 2026, was filed by the son of

the 19th Ward Member, and an interim order was passed by the

Division Bench of this Court not to proceed with the conduct of

the election. However, before communication of the interim

order, the meeting was convened. The 19th Ward Member

(whose son filed the W.P. No.4958 of 2026) voluntarily

participated in the election after taking oath and voted in favour

4

of the petitioner. Photographs have been filed in support of the

submissions made in the affidavit.

5. It is the case of the petitioner that 15 members participated

in the election process, duly signed the register maintained for

the said purpose, and petitioner secured 15 votes in the election

conducted on 17.02.2026. However, before formal declaration of

results, 3^rd respondent received information regarding the

interim st