Supreme Court Sets Aside Elections in 50 Punjab Wards
The Supreme Court ordered fresh municipal elections across fifty wards in Punjab following an official inquiry that documented extensive disruption during candidate filings. A judicial bench accepted the recommendations of a one-member fact-finding commission led by former High Court judge Nirmaljit Kaur.
Although the Punjab and Haryana High Court had earlier mandated videography for the December 2024 nomination process, authorities failed to record the proceedings, leading the Supreme Court to mandate retired-judge oversight.
The Punjab State Election Commission recorded 37,32,636 voters in December 2024, with 28 in Patiala and 22 in Moga among the 50 re-notified wards.
The municipal contests took place on December 21, 2024, before being challenged by candidates who faced obstruction while attempting to submit nomination papers. Authorities formally established the fact-finding commission on March 24, 2025, which submitted its comprehensive investigative findings on November 18, 2025.
Petitioners in the December 2024 municipal elections alleged that ruling party workers and police assaulted candidates, tore their clothes, and snatched nomination papers during filing.
Commission Findings on Nomination Disruptions
The commission reported widespread interference where nomination forms were violently torn, snatched, or destroyed, while aspiring candidates suffered physical assaults, detention, and intimidation. The bench accepted the investigative recommendations and mandated that authorities conduct entirely fresh elections in all fifty designated wards within six weeks.
The commission found police connivance and negligence, documenting that police deliberately restricted candidate access, confiscated forms, and failed to preserve CCTV footage of nomination venues.
Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, representing the Punjab state government, submitted that the provincial administration raised no objection to implementing the commission findings.
Independent Observers and Videography Safeguards
The apex court directed the Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court to appoint senior bar advocates to act as independent observers. Every procedural phase, including nomination submissions, symbol distribution, and voting, must be recorded on video under direct observer supervision.
The Supreme Court directed the Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court to appoint a monitoring committee comprising a retired High Court judge within one week to supervise the re-elections.
State authorities must provide the Monitoring Committee with a detailed ward-wise deployment list of all election officials before candidate filing commences. The state administration must also provide comprehensive personnel registries identifying all active police supervisors holding the rank of deputy superintendent or higher.
Aggrieved candidates or citizens observing procedural interference may submit formal grievances directly to the established Monitoring Committee for immediate review.
Administrative Logistics and High Court Oversight
The state government will bear all honorariums, logistical expenditures, security arrangements, and transportation costs established by the High Court Chief Justice. Observers and committee members must deliver an exhaustive post-election report directly to the Chief Justice following completion of the balloting cycle.
The Supreme Court stipulated that the election cycle will be legally certified only after the Chief Justice confirms that voting remained free and fair.
Procedural History and Appeal From High Court
The legal battle began after excluded candidates challenged mayoral selections and nomination rejections before the Punjab and Haryana High Court. On January 10, 2025, the High Court permitted the municipal corporation elections to proceed on grounds that ward-level deferments would not impede overall voting.
Discontented candidates subsequently appealed the High Court ruling before the Supreme Court, securing the comprehensive re-election mandate.