HC DIRECTS PUNJAB GOVT TO HOLD ABOHAR MAYORAL ELECTION WITHIN A WEEK

 INDEPENDENT OBSERVER TO OVERSEE THE PROCEEDINGS

Raj Sadosh/Abohar.

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has directed the Punjab government to hold Mayoral election of the Abohar Municipal Corporation within a week.

Arrangements are to be made for complete video photography of the proceedings. An independent Observer will be appointed to oversee the election proceedings. No coercive measures will be taken against the councillors to ensure the fair election. The directions were issued on Wednesday by the bench of Justice Deepak Sibal and Justice Rupinderjit Chahal. The petitioners were represented by Preetinder Ahluwalia Senior Advocate.

A Writ Petition was filed by 28 elected Municipal Councillors of the Municipal Corporation, Abohar, who collectively hold a clear majority of 28 out of 50 seats. Despite the statutory mandate under Section 38 of the Punjab Municipal Corporation Act, 1976, to hold the election for Mayor and other posts within one month, the authorities delayed the process. A meeting was finally convened on 10.07.2026, but the Returning Officer, instead of proceeding with the election, abruptly left the venue amidst chaos created by the minority party members, leading to an indefinite postponement.

The Petitioners apprehended that this delay is a deliberate tactic by the State machinery, acting at the behest of the ruling party, to indulge in horse-trading. The petitioners, in one voice, asked the Returning Officer that election of Pooja Wadhwa as Mayor, Dharamvir Senior as Deputy Mayor and Deepak Kumar Chhapola as Deputy Mayor be allowed

Owing to the developments in the meeting and dharna staged by the petitioners’, the proceedings for election were postponed. The petitioners sought directions that the entire election process be recorded by continuous videography. They also sought the appointment of an independent Observer as this Hon’ble Court may deem appropriate, to oversee the election proceedings and ensure compliance with the statutory procedure.