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 dissatisfied candidates to file election petitions. A bench comprising 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 court said that 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 candidates whose nomination papers were rejected or torn can also approach the Punjab and Haryana High Court with their complaints. The court said their petitions cannot be dismissed for violation of the statute of limitations. The Chief Justice said the petitions should be decided 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 approach to this instance.”
The chief justice was shocked during the hearing.
During the brief hearing, the Chief Justice expressed surprise when the Court was informed that out of over 13,000 Panchayat posts, candidates had been elected unopposed for 3,000 posts. He said: “This is very strange! I have never seen figures like that…it is a huge figure.” A lawyer alleged that a candidate’s symbol was removed during the elections. The top court also expressed surprise that the High Court had dismissed hundreds of petitions. The petitions were dismissed without a proper hearing.
The court issued a 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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