Punjab now withdraws notification for holding zila parishad polls — 2nd U-turn in 5 days

The U-turn on zila parsihad polls comes a day before the high court was to take up for hearing a plea challenging the government notification

2 min readChandigarhSep 6, 2023 05:30 AM IST

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With the fresh notification on zila parishad elections, Financial Commissioner Tejveer Singh said the government has complied with the orders of the high court. (Express File Photo)

The Punjab government Tuesday, in yet another U-turn, withdrew the notification for holding the zila parishad and panchayat samiti elections, five days after it had withdrawn two other notifications — one pertaining to dissolution of panchayats and another that had put a freeze on panchayats’ bank accounts.

A fresh notification issued by Financial Commissioner, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Tejveer Singh said that the elections to zila parishads and panchayat samitis stand withdrawn but elections for panchayats will be held by December 31.

The state government, through a notification on August 10 had dissolved all gram panchayats, panchayat samitis and zila parishads with immediate effect. “The Governor..is pleased to direct that the general election of the members of the (i) the Panchayat Samitis and the Zila Parishads, shall be held by the 25th November, ߧ and (ii) the Gram Panchayats, shall be held by the 31st December, 2023,” read the notification.

On August 11, the government issued a communication to suspend all the financial transactions with gram panchayats.

There are 13,241 gram panchayats, 153 block samitis and 23 zila parishads in Punjab.

On August 31, however, the government informed the Punjab and Haryana High Court that it will withdraw within two days the notification on dissolution of panchayats.

The U-turn on zila parsihad polls comes a day before the high court was to take up for hearing a plea challenging the government notification. The petitioner, Sri Muktsar Sahib Zila Parishad chairman Narinder Singh, had filed the plea stating that the elections are being called at least 11 months before the completion of the zila parishads’ 5-year term.

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With the fresh notification on zila parishad elections, Financial Commissioner Tejveer Singh said the government has complied with the orders of the high court

Earlier, after telling the high court that it would withdraw notification regarding dissolution of panchayats, the government had put under suspension two officials of rural development and panchayats department. They included the principal secretary DK Tiwari and Director Gurpreet Khaira.

Kanchan Vasdev

Kanchan Vasdev is a Senior Assistant Editor in The Indian Express’ Punjab bureau. She is a highly experienced journalist with 22 years of expertise covering high-stakes politics, governance, and social issues in Northern India. Professional Background Role: Primary reporter covering the Punjab Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), government policies, and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leadership in the state. Experience: She previously worked with The Tribune and has played a key role in launching various city editions. Special Projects: Abandoned Brides: Authored a monograph on brides abandoned by NRIs as part of the Prabha Dutt Memorial Fellowship. Environment: Worked as a Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) fellow, focusing on the pollution levels in the Satluj river. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Her recent reporting focuses on the legislative strategies and political maneuvers of the Bhagwant Mann-led Punjab government: 1. Legislative & Governance Standoffs "Punjab govt advances special Assembly session to pass resolution against VB-G RAM G Bill" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on the state's move to block the Centre's "Viksit Bharat" mission, which the state claims will undermine MGNREGA. "Punjab govt doubles down on special sessions, sixth in January" (Dec 19, 2025): Detailing the AAP government's use of special sessions as a legislative tool amid tensions with the Governor. "Punjab asks 'VIP teachers' working near Chandigarh to go back to border districts" (Dec 16, 2025): Reporting on CM Mann's move to end the practice of influential teachers avoiding postings in remote areas. 2. Political Analysis & Rural Polls "Punjab rural polls: Why Akalis are likened to dinosaurs in Punjab" (Dec 19, 2025): Analyzing CM Bhagwant Mann's rhetoric against the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) following local body elections. "AAP claims win in 78% Punjab zila parishads as counting continues" (Dec 18, 2025): Breaking down the results of the 2025 rural elections. "Rahul Gandhi and Sidhu alike, says Bhagwant Mann" (Dec 13, 2025): Covering the CM's critique of the Congress leadership. 3. Law Enforcement & Bureaucracy "Suspended Punjab IPS officer Ravjot Kaur Grewal awaits reinstatement" (Dec 10, 2025): Investigative reporting on the bureaucratic red tape involving the Election Commission and the state government. "Punjab declines to give parole to Amritpal Singh" (Nov 27, 2025): Detailing the state government's refusal to grant parole to the radical preacher and sitting MP. 4. Welfare & Economy "Punjab government's plan to add more freebies to 'atta-dal' scheme hits funds roadblock" (Dec 4, 2024): An analysis of the fiscal challenges facing the state's flagship food security program. "Mann leads Punjab delegation to Japan and South Korea for investor outreach" (Dec 2, 2025). Signature Beat Kanchan Vasdev is known for her insider access to Punjab's political executive. Her writing provides deep insights into how state policies are formulated and the friction points between the state government and central authorities. Her dual expertise in environment and law allows her to report on complex issues like the "Farmhouse Policy" (Dec 18, 2025) and river pollution with a unique policy-oriented lens. X (Twitter): @kanchan99 ... Read More

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