HC weighs intervention in Punjab Zila Parishad elections amid allegations

Just four days before the Zila Parishad and Panchayat Samiti elections in Punjab, the Punjab and Haryana High Court on Monday asked the PIL-petitioners before it to show exceptional circumstances warranting interference at this stage.

Taking up the matter, the Bench headed by Chief Justice Sheel Nagu asked counsel for former MLA Diljit Singh Cheema to point out specific instances that would justify such an extraordinary intervention.

At one point of time during the course of hearing, the Bench also indicated the possibility to send the matter to the State Election Commission for taking appropriate action under law, while observing that once the election process had commenced, the jurisdiction, control and supervision rested with the Commission.

The Court was informed that 786 nominations were filed for Block Samiti elections in 10 blocks, out of which 621 candidates were in fray for 185 vacancies.

For Patiala district alone, 146 nominations were filed for Zila Parishad elections, and 113 were found valid. The Bench was further told that six FIRs had already been registered.

The State of Punjab opposed the pleas terming the same as politically motivated. Referring to allegations flowing from an allegedly leaked audio clip, the State submitted that the clip had been uploaded by Sukhbir Badal and later made viral by party workers.

The State Election Commission, meanwhile, gave details of deployment arrangements. It said after receiving a complaint the matter was forwarded to the DGP and directions were subsequently issued that the investigation be conducted by an ADGP-rank officer.

The Commission also apprised the Court of arrangements made for conduct of polls, including deputation of 23 observers comprising IAS and PCS officers, besides a police observer.

The matter will now come up after the lunch break for resumed hearing.