Punjab Newsline | Chandigarh
Punjab’s upcoming civic body elections will be conducted through ballot papers after the Punjab and Haryana High Court rejected all petitions demanding the use of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).
Voting for 105 municipal corporations, municipal councils, and nagar panchayats across Punjab is scheduled to take place on May 26.
The decision to conduct elections through ballot papers had been challenged in court by Mohali resident Ruchita Garg through a Public Interest Litigation (PIL). The petitioner argued that the elections should be conducted using EVMs instead of ballot papers.
During the hearing, the petitioner’s counsel informed the court that the Supreme Court had earlier observed that reverting to the ballot-paper system was impractical. It was also argued that Section 64 of Punjab law treats references to ballot boxes and ballot papers as including EVMs.
The petitioner further stated that Section 64 of the Punjab State Election Commission Act is similar to Section 61-A of the Representation of the People Act, under which EVMs have already received legal recognition since 2002. The plea maintained that courts have consistently upheld the validity of the EVM system over the years.
During Thursday’s hearing, the Election Commission of India rejected the Punjab government’s claim that 15 days would be required for EVM training and preparations. The Commission told the court that only 15 minutes were sufficient for the process.
Punjab Advocate General Maninderjit Singh Bedi argued before the court that judicial intervention becomes limited once the election notification has been issued.
After hearing all sides, the High Court observed that only four days were left for polling and all arrangements had already been completed. The court therefore ordered that the elections be conducted through ballot papers and dismissed all related petitions.
