#free and fair elections

The Punjab & Haryana High Court ruled that detained councillors cannot be barred from taking oath or participating in municipal elections, ensuring their right to vote under the Punjab Municipal Election Rules, 1994. The Court mandated videography of the election process and directed the Deputy Commissioner to comply within 10 days, reinforcing transparency and procedural fairness in local governance.

The Punjab and Haryana High Court ruled that even without evidence of malpractice, the mere risk to public confidence in Panchayat elections requires mandatory videography, a court observer, and use of the Deputy Commissioner’s office as a neutral venue. This elevates perceived fairness as a constitutional imperative under Article 21, setting a new standard for grassroots electoral integrity across rural India.

The Punjab & Haryana High Court directed that panchayat elections for Chairman and Vice Chairman must be conducted under videography, with a court observer present, and relocated to the Deputy Commissioner’s office to ensure fairness. This ruling applies even in the absence of proven illegality, establishing a precedent for electoral transparency in local governance.