Topic
Panchayat elections in India are local body elections governed by the 73rd Constitutional Amendment and state Panchayati Raj Acts, ensuring democratic representation at the village level.
Punjab & Haryana HC held that in a two-candidate panchayat poll, if winning candidate not an elector is disqualified, their votes treated as invalid, rival declared elected if they have a majority of valid votes, removing need to prove voter awareness.
The Allahabad High Court has ruled that rejection of a panchayat nomination without giving the candidate an opportunity to cure technical defects violates the principle of natural justice, making such rejections challengeable through election petitions. This sets a critical precedent for electoral fairness in local body elections across Uttar Pradesh, empowering candidates to contest arbitrary disqualifications.
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.
The Punjab and Haryana High Court ruled that panchayat elections must be conducted via secret ballot, with videography at petitioners' cost, and held at the Deputy Commissioner’s office to ensure fairness. The court also mandated security for voters facing intimidation, reinforcing democratic transparency and voter autonomy in local governance.
Supreme Court holds that challenges to nomination rejection in Panchayat elections can only be raised via election petition under Article 243-O, barring writ jurisdiction.