Supreme Court Orders Fresh Polls In Punjab Municipal Wards Where Violence Marred Election Process

The Supreme Court on Monday directed fresh elections in those wards of the Patiala Municipal Corporation where a court-appointed fact-finding committee found that violence and serious irregularities had affected the electoral process during the Punjab municipal elections.

The direction was passed on September 28 after the Punjab Government agreed to accept the findings of the committee headed by former Punjab and Haryana High Court judge Justice Nirmaljit Kaur. The committee was constituted by the Supreme Court in March 2025 to examine allegations concerning the conduct of the municipal elections.

The controversy arose from allegations that candidates were prevented from filing nomination papers and that nomination documents were allegedly snatched or torn amid physical altercations and violence. Questions were also raised regarding compliance with directions concerning videography and the conduct of the nomination process.

Court had earlier constituted a fact-finding mechanism after noting that the petitions involved disputed questions of fact which could not appropriately be determined in writ proceedings.

Justice Nirmaljit Kaur was tasked with examining the complaints and material concerning the affected constituencies. The proceedings were confined to cases where persons had already approached either the High Court or the Supreme Court. The Court had also clarified that the constitution of the commission would not constitute a precedent.

The committee examined material including statements of candidates and petitioners, responses from police and administrative officials, official videography and CCTV footage. Its report was subsequently submitted to the Supreme Court.

After considering the committee's findings and the stand of the Punjab Government, the Supreme Court ordered that the affected wards should go through the electoral process afresh.

During Monday's hearing, senior advocate Kapil Sibal requested the Court to clarify that the arrangement should not be treated as a precedent. The Court accepted the submission, making clear the exceptional nature of the directions in the circumstances of the case.

Court's intervention follows a prolonged legal challenge concerning the Patiala municipal elections. The matter had initially reached the Punjab and Haryana High Court before being brought before the apex court, which subsequently appointed the fact-finding committee to independently examine the allegations.

The fresh polling direction is significant because it comes after an independent judicial fact-finding exercise into allegations affecting the integrity of the electoral process. The Court has now acted on the findings in respect of the wards where the committee found that violence had interfered with the conduct of elections.

Bench: CJI Kant, Justice Bagchi and Justice Mohana

Hearing Date: September 28, 2026