The Supreme Court on Monday directed the Punjab government and the State Election Commission to notify the election process for five municipal corporations and 42 municipal councils in the State within 15 days.
Upholding an order of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, the Bench of Justice Surya Kant and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan ordered the state government to complete the poll process within two months after the announcement of municipal elections.
The Apex Court came down heavily on the state for challenging the Punjab and Haryana High Court verdict that had directed the State Election Commission and the government of Punjab to announce the schedule for elections within 15 days.
The Bench pointed out that while the state was ‘very keen’ on conducting panchayat polls, it wanted to delay the municipality elections on some pretext or other.
The top court of the country observed that the State’s reliance on the pending delimitation process was misplaced, particularly because no significant changes in population or municipal boundaries had occurred.
In its October 14 order, the High Court had delivered the judgment on two petitions that highlighted the delay in holding the municipal elections.
The High Court had rejected the State’s explanation that a pending delimitation process was delaying the conduct of local elections.
Punjab Advocate General Gurminder Singh, Senior Counsel Abhishek Manu Singhvi and Advocate Karan Sharma today appeared before the Apex Court for the State government.
The Counsels, at the outset of the hearing, agreed that a legal battle should not be fought over the issue. However, they submitted that there were no delay tactics on part of the State.
Reminding the State of its obligations under Article 243, the Apex Court dismissed the appeal.