Over 200 petitions allege irregularities, HC stays panchayat polls in some Punjab villages

`The petitioners claimed that they had filed complete nomination papers with the required documents and affidavit for the panchayat elections in Wazirabad village in Fatehgarh Sahib district, but the returning officer on the day of scrutiny October 5 informed them that “our candidature could not be considered without giving any reason or any opportunity of personal hearing”.

The petitioners further said, “Since we are contesting against the ruling party candidates, unconstitutional and arbitrary acts are being committed to win the one-sided election.”

Similarly, other petitioners also alleged irregularities in the nomination process and the rejection of their candidature by officials without passing any order and without any opportunity for a personal hearing.

Hearing the matter, the court flayed the Punjab government for its handling of the electoral process and sought an explanation for the appointment of the State Election Commissioner (SEC).

The bench also expressed concerns over the prevailing chaos and potential breaches of democratic norms, and orally noted, “The government must clear whether it intends to withdraw the election notification and undertake a more efficient electoral process, and if not, the court will have no choice but to issue strict orders”.

The bench then stayed the election process in villages from where petitions alleging irregularities in the nomination process were filed.

Hearing a petition filed by Karam Singh from Achal gram panchayat in Nabha tehsil of Patiala district, alleging that he was “not permitted to fill his nomination papers and was manhandled by the police authorities”, the HC on Tuesday ordered, “Till further order, the further process of the election in the Achal gram panchayat shall remain in abeyance.”