Shimla, Nov. 18 -- Hours after Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu-led state government assured the high court (HC) that election process of Panchayat polls will be started by January 21, the state poll body issued a notification enforcing a key clause of the Model Code of Conduct, 2020-freezing any changes to the structure, classification or boundaries of all panchayats and municipalities in state.

The statement comes during the hearing of a public interest litigation (PIL) challenging deferring of the panchayat elections under the Disaster Management Act.

The division bench of chief justice Gurmeet Singh Sandhawalia and justice Jiya Lal Bhardwaj also issued notice to state government and state election commission to file reply on December 22.

Pet...