Punjab Govt objects to PIL challenging Patiala Zila Parishad and Panchayat Samiti elections, citing Supreme Court precedents; High Court hearing set for Monday.

A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) regarding the current Zila Parishads and Panchayat Samitis elections in the Patiala district has been filed before the Punjab and Haryana High Court, to which the Punjab Government, represented by Learned Advocate General Maninderjit Singh Bedi, has vehemently objected. The petition is based on a purportedly viral audio recording of a conference call.In constitutional courts, the State has presented basic challenges to the petition’s maintainability.

The Learned Advocate General argued before the Hon’ble High Court that PILs pertaining to elections are not maintainable, citing well-established Supreme Court precedents. He said that constitutional courts shouldn’t consider such petitions, which are frequently motivated by political reasons.

Also read : Punjab Police Launches ‘Mainstreaming of Women Police’ Project to Empower Women Officers

When it was noted that the petitioners’ reliance on a fictitious representation to the election authorities was compromised by the fact that the representation was issued on the official letterhead of political parties, the State’s resistance was further strengthened. The State contended that this further undermines the petition’s maintainability as a legitimate PIL and amply demonstrates its politicized nature.

The Hon’ble High Court has taken note of the State’s arguments and asked the petitioners to provide a thorough justification for the petition’s maintainability in view of these legal challenges. A follow-up hearing on the case is now scheduled for Monday.