The Supreme Court on Monday termed the fact that 3,000 out of 13,000 panchayat officials were elected unopposed in the recently held elections in Punjab. The court allowed disgruntled candidates to file election petitions. A bench of Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar had earlier issued a notice on a petition alleging rejection of nomination papers of several candidates and other election irregularities. The bench said that the aggrieved persons can file an election petition before the Election Commission and the Commission will have to take a decision on it within 6 months.
What else did the Supreme Court say?
The apex court said candidates whose nomination papers have been rejected or torn can also approach the Punjab and Haryana High Court with their grievances. The court said that their petitions cannot be dismissed on the ground of violation of limitation. The Chief Justice said that the petitions should be disposed of on merit. “We allow the petitioner to file the election petition,” the order said. The State Election Commission will decide on the applications within 6 months, if there is delay the applicants 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 is rejected by the High Court, the petitioners have the right to approach the Court.” .”
The Chief Justice was shocked during the hearing
During the brief hearing, the chief justice expressed surprise when the court was told that out of over 13,000 panchayat posts, candidates were elected unopposed on 3,000 posts. He said, “This is very strange! I have never seen such figures…this is a huge number.” A lawyer claimed that a candidate’s symbol was removed during the election. The Supreme Court also expressed surprise that the High Court had dismissed hundreds of petitions without giving notice. A fair hearing was given to the affected parties.
The bench had on October 18 issued a notice 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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