Panchayat Elections: PIL filed against Punjab Government for electing unopposed Sarpanches

PTC News Desk: A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been filed in the Punjab and Haryana High Court to challenge the Punjab Government's election of unopposed sarpanches in Punjab panchayats. 

The petitioner stated that the government is directly taking away the right to vote from voters. Even if there is only one candidate in the race, regular voters should have the option of NOTA against him, the PIL said.

The petitioner further argued that the government used coercive measures to ensure the election of its preferred candidates. According to the PIL, the government rejected the nomination of other candidates or forced them to withdraw their candidature. This, the petitioner claims, is an attack on democracy.