punjab panchayat elections
The Supreme Court on Monday termed as ‘very strange’ the fact that 3,000 out of 13,000 panchayat officials were elected unopposed in the recently held elections in Punjab. The court allowed the dissatisfied candidates to file election petitions. A bench of Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar had earlier issued notices on the petition alleging rejection of nomination papers of several candidates and other electoral irregularities. The bench said that the aggrieved persons can file election petitions before the Election Commission and the Commission will have to decide on them in 6 months.
What else did the Supreme Court say?
The top court said that the candidates whose nomination papers were rejected or torn can also approach the Punjab and Haryana High Court with their complaints. The court said that their petitions cannot be dismissed on the ground of violation of limitation period. The Chief Justice said that the petitions should be disposed of on merits. “We allow the petitioner to file the election petition,” the order said. The State Election Commission will decide on the petitions in 6 months, if there is a delay the petitioners can approach the High Court.”
The order said, “Those whose nominations were rejected or whose papers were torn may file a review petition before the High Court in accordance with law… If their petition in the High Court is rejected then The petitioners have the right to come to this court.”
Chief Justice was shocked during the hearing
During the brief hearing, the Chief Justice expressed surprise when the Court was told that out of more than 13,000 Panchayat posts, candidates had been elected unopposed to 3,000 posts. He said, “This is very strange! I have never seen such figures…this is a huge number.” A lawyer claimed that a candidate’s symbol was removed during the elections. The apex court also expressed surprise that the High Court had dismissed hundreds of The petitions were dismissed without giving a proper hearing to the affected parties.
The bench issued notice on October 18 on a petition filed by Sunita Rani and others alleging irregularities in the panchayat elections held on October 15. (with language inputs)
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