'Things Will Fall In Place': High Court Grants Further 15 Days To Punjab Election Commissioner For Notifying Municipal Election Schedule

The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Tuesday (December 3) granted further 15 days time to the Punjab Election Commissioner- to initiate the process of conducting Municipal Corporation election in the State.The development comes in a contempt plea filed against the officer for not following Court's direction to initiate the process of holding elections.42 municipal councils and nagar panchayats are awaiting elections. In some municipalities elections have not taken place since four years.In the pre-lunch session, the Court had summoned Election Commissioner to explain as to why no notification has been issued despite directions of the Supreme Court.Justice Harkesh Manuja was hearing an application to revive the contempt plea, after the main contempt plea was disposed of stating that if the Supreme Court's direction passed on November 11 to notify the Punjab municipality elections within 15 days is not complied, then the contempt petition can be revived.In the post-lunch session, the counsel appearing for the State Election Commissioner apprised the Court that notification of election schedule is ready and will be published by December 8.Hearing this, the bench orally remarked, "We will give them 15 days time. In meanwhile things will fall in place".On October 14, the High Court had issued a writ of mandamus to the Punjab's State Election Commission and Punjab Government to initiate the process of holding Municipal elections, within 15 days without conducting the fresh exercise of delimitation.The Apex Court on November 11, had given further 2 weeks time to initiate the election process."Taking into consideration all the attending circumstances, we direct the State Election Commission, Punjab and the State of Punjab to commence the election process within two weeks and complete the same within eight weeks thereafter. No further extension shall be granted," stated the order passed on November 11.The application to revive contempt plea stated that the Punjab State Election Commission has not notified the election program within the extension granted by the Apex Court, which expired on November 26.Title: Beant Kumar @ Benat Kinger v. Raj Kumar Chaudhar & Ors.Advocates Angrej Singh, Bhisham kinger and sukhcharn s gill appeared for petitioner.

'Things Will Fall In Place': High Court Grants Further 15 Days To Punjab Election Commissioner For Notifying Municipal Election Schedule

Aiman J. Chishti

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