New Delhi, October 17, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
The Supreme Court on Saturday directed fresh elections in Ward Nos. 15 and 58 of the Patiala Municipal Corporation in Punjab, while declining to entertain a plea seeking similar directions for Ward Nos. 10 and 11 of the Dharamkot Municipal Council, as the two wards were not covered by the fact-finding report accepted by the court.
A Bench comprising Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi passed the order on Friday while considering applications seeking clarification and further directions in connection with its September 28 order for fresh elections in certain municipal wards across Punjab.
Modifying paragraphs 11 and 12 of its earlier order, the Bench led by CJI Kant stated, “Ward numbers 15 and 58 of Patiala Municipal Corporation are also included for the purpose of conducting fresh election.”
“Consequently, fresh elections will be conducted in respect of Ward numbers 15 and 58 of the Patiala Municipal Corporation,” the order added.
However, the apex court declined to entertain a separate application seeking fresh elections in Ward Nos. 10 and 11 of the Dharamkot Municipal Council.
“Since the directions for conducting fresh elections have been issued by accepting the report submitted by Justice Nirmaljit Kaur in entirety, we cannot entertain this application seeking inclusion of ward numbers 10 and 11 of Dharamkot Municipal Council,” the Bench said.
“We say so for the reason that these wards are not included in the report of Justice Nirmaljit Kaur,” it added.
Both miscellaneous applications were accordingly disposed of.
On September 28, the Supreme Court had directed fresh elections in 50 wards across municipal bodies in Punjab after accepting in full the recommendations of a fact-finding commission headed by former Punjab and Haryana High Court judge Justice Nirmaljit Kaur.
The commission had examined allegations of widespread obstruction during the municipal election nomination process, including incidents in which nomination papers were allegedly snatched, torn or destroyed, while candidates were reportedly assaulted, detained or threatened.
Its report found that elections in 50 wards had been vitiated, identifying 28 wards in Patiala district and 22 in Moga district as requiring fresh polls.
The commission also found serious evidence of bogus or multiple voting and intimidation in Ward Nos. 15 and 58 of the Patiala Municipal Corporation, raising questions about the fairness of the electoral process in those wards.
Accepting the findings, the Supreme Court directed fresh elections in the identified wards and ordered the formation of a monitoring committee comprising a retired judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court to oversee the process.
The court also directed that senior members of the Bar be appointed as observers and ordered videography of the nomination process, scrutiny of nomination papers, allocation of election symbols and polling to help ensure free, fair and transparent elections.
The entire re-election process was ordered to be completed within six weeks.
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