Supreme Court refuses to stay Panchayat elections in Punjab

The Supreme Court of India declined to stay the panchayat elections in Punjab, noting that polling had already begun. The appeal was filed against a Punjab and Haryana High Court decision that dismissed around 800 petitions alleging irregularities in the elections. The Supreme Court, led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, emphasized that staying elections is a drastic step and suggested that the remedy lies in filing an election petition before the High Court. The High Court had previously lifted a stay on elections for over 200 panchayats and ordered videography of the elections. The Punjab government argued that the petitions were not maintainable as the petitioners should have filed election petitions instead. The Supreme Court’s decision underscores the importance of elections and the judiciary’s reluctance to interfere once the electoral process has commenced1.