HC Questions Punjab Govt Over Delayed in Municipal Elections

The Punjab-Haryana High Court, on Friday, questioned the Punjab government’s delay in conducting elections for 42 municipal councils and committees, whose terms have long expired.

The high court’s inquiry comes in the absence of any interim order from the Supreme Court to justify the postponement of these elections.

Beant Singh, a resident of Malerkotla, filed a public interest litigation (PIL) informing the High Court that, despite the expiration of their terms several months ago, elections for the 42 municipal bodies have not been held, resulting in a halt in developmental works in these areas. Most of these councils’ terms ended in December 2022.

As per the Constitution, it is mandatory to hold elections for municipal councils before the expiration of their current terms. However, the local government has seemingly not adhered to this mandate. Although the Department of Local Bodies issued a notification on August 1, 2023, scheduling the elections for November 1, they have yet to be conducted.

Previously, Singh sent a legal notice to the state government requesting the elections, but to no avail, leading him to seek intervention from the High Court.

The Punjab government, during the hearing, indicated that a petition regarding this matter is pending before the Apex Court. However, when the High Court inquired whether the Supreme Court had issued any interim order to halt the elections, the government’s response was negative, prompting the High Court to question why the elections have not yet been conducted.