New Delhi: Today, the Supreme Court refused to interfere with the Panchayat election that going on in Punjab and declined to stay the election. SC mentioned that to stay the conduct of elections is a grave thing. The apex court also noted that polling has already begun in the State and it would not be right to put a stay at this moment.
The matter was mentioned before a Bench headed by Chief Justice of India. CJI said, “How can we stay it now.. polls must have begun now! suppose we stay now there will be complete chaos. Staying conduct of elections is a grave thing.”
The CJI made it clear and said, “We will not stay, least of all when elections have begun. Tomorrow someone will want to stay in parliamentary elections like this. We will list but no interim stay.”
The appeal before the top court was filed challenging a decision of the Punjab and Haryana High Court which on Monday dismissed all the petitions alleging irregularities in the panchayat elections.
Last week on Wednesday, after responding to some petitions, The Punjab and Haryana High Court had ordered stay on panchayat elections for around 250 panchayats and had listed the matter for next hearing on October 14. Yesterday, on October 14, The High Court lifted up this stay and also dismissed all the petitions seeking cancellation of panchayat elections.