Voting Underway for Punjab Gram Panchayat Elections After High Court Clears Legal Hurdles

Voting is currently underway for the Punjab gram panchayat elections, with polling taking place from 8 AM to 4 PM across the state. Voters are casting their ballots using ballot boxes to elect village-level ‘sarpanches’ and ‘panches.’ According to reports, citizens in Mohali and Ludhiana are actively participating in the peaceful voting process, with results expected after the polls close.

On Monday, the Punjab and Haryana High Court dismissed over 1,000 petitions seeking to halt the elections and lifted a ban on 206 panchayats, allowing the elections to proceed as scheduled. The court emphasized that only the Election Commission has the authority to intervene in the electoral process and mandated videography and recording of the elections. Attorneys for the petitioners, however, plan to challenge the decision in the Supreme Court.

The elections are being held for 13,237 ‘sarpanches’ and 83,437 ‘panches.’ Advocate Hakam Singh noted that the High Court dismissed most petitions related to the elections, except one concerning videography, and that legal challenges may continue. Meanwhile, Leader of the Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa criticized the Aam Aadmi Party, accusing the government of negligence in the nomination process, which led to confusion among candidates. Despite these complications, the Chief Minister had earlier assured the elections would be conducted fairly.