Won't Stay Punjab Panchayat Elections, Says Supreme Court While Agreeing To List Plea Challenging Polls

The Supreme Court today agreed to list a petition challenging the Punjab Panchayat elections but said that it won't stay the elections, which are taking place today.

A petition challenging the elections on the grounds of alleged irregularities was mentioned before the Chief Justice of India for an urgent hearing. Though CJI agreed to list the petition, he said that the elections cannot be stayed once the process has commenced.

CJI DY Chandrachud was of the view that staying the elections after the polling has commenced will have grave consequences and may lead to chaos. 

"Polling has opened, suppose we stay there will be chaos....the matter will be listed, but we are not staying the elections," the CJI said. 

When the Counsel urged the 'unusualness of the situation, the CJI remarked: " But it's unusual in democracy also, where we value elections. You can challenge in election petition ......tomorrow someone will say stay the parliamentary elections once polling opens, can you imagine the consequences?" 

Notably, yesterday, the Punjab and Haryana High Court vacated its earlier stay on the elections and dismissed nearly 1000 pleas alleging irregularities in the nomination process. A detailed order of the High Court is awaited.