Municipal council polls: SC order ignored; Punjab Election Commissioner sets March deadline

PTC Web Desk: In a significant development regarding the delay in conducting municipal council elections, the Punjab Election Commissioner informed the Punjab and Haryana High Court on Friday that elections for three municipal councils would be held by March 10. This comes despite the Supreme Court's earlier directives. The High Court noted that this delay was a direct violation of the Supreme Court's order, which had mandated the elections be held within 10 weeks back in November.

The Punjab and Haryana High Court further stated that if the petitioners wished, they could file a contempt petition against the authorities concerned. After the Supreme Court's orders, the Punjab Government was compelled to conduct elections for the state's municipal corporations and councils. However, elections for Tarn Taran, Talwara, and Dera Baba Nanak municipal councils were still not held by the Punjab Government and the State Election Commission.

Advocate Bhisham Kinger had filed a public interest petition against the delay in the High Court. During the previous hearing, the court had sharply criticised the Punjab Government and the State Election Commission, stating that their actions had mocked democracy.

In response to the High Court's orders, the Election Commission assured that elections would be held by March 10. However, the High Court said this was a clear violation of the commission's earlier directive. The court now allowed the petitioners the option of filing a contempt petition against the Punjab Government and the Election Commission. The High Court adjourned the hearing on the petition until January 27.