HC issues notice to Punjab SEC on contempt plea over online nomination system

The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Monday issued notice of motion in a contempt petition seeking initiation of proceedings against State Election Commissioner, Punjab, over alleged wilful non-compliance of earlier judicial directions concerning consideration of a proposal for an optional online nomination filing system in local body elections.

The action came on contempt petition, wherein it was alleged that the State Election Commissioner failed to comply with directions passed in an earlier PIL relating to electoral reforms at the municipal and panchayat level.

The petition, filed by advocate Nikhil Thamman in person contended that the representation seeking introduction of an online nomination mechanism was not decided within the stipulated time-frame despite specific judicial directions,

The matter was taken up by Justice Vikas Bahl’s bench, which issued notice of motion to the respondent for May 27. Taking up the PIL, the division bench comprising Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Sanjiv Berry had on February 6 directed the State Election Commission to consider and decide the petitioner’s representation dated December 14, 2025, by passing a speaking order within 60 days and communicate the decision.

The PIL had, among other things, flagged repeated incidents of violence, intimidation, and disruption during filing of nomination papers in local body elections across Punjab, including allegations of tearing of nomination forms and physical obstruction of candidates, and had sought adoption of an optional online nomination system on the lines of the Election Commission’s “Suvidha” platform for Parliamentary and Assembly polls.

The petitioner has alleged that the failure to comply with the high court’s directions within the stipulated period has compelled invocation of contempt jurisdiction.