SC sets up fact-finding panel to probe Patiala MC poll ‘violations’
Mar 28, 2025 09:42 AM IST
The Supreme Court bench of justice Surya Kant and justice NK Singh has appointed justice (retd) Nirmaljeet Kaur and asked her to take up the matter on day-to-day basis and submit a report at the earliest.
The Supreme Court has appointed a fact-finding commission under a former judge of Punjab and Haryana high court to inquire into allegations of procedural lapses, violation of norms and violence, during municipal polls in Patiala in December last.
The Supreme Court bench of justice Surya Kant and justice NK Singh has appointed justice (retd) Nirmaljeet Kaur and asked her to take up the matter on day-to-day basis and submit a report at the earliest.
HS Oberoi, one of the lawyer for petitioners, and state government counsel, Ferry Sofat said the panel would also look into similar complaints reported in the election of municipal committee, Dharamkot (Moga).
The petitions alleged that members of the ruling party, police officials, and unknown third parties prevented candidates of various political outfits from submitting their nomination forms. While halting them from filing their nominations, these persons engaged in physical assault, tearing of clothes, and snatching of the nomination papers. It was also alleged that the high court orders on recording the entire nomination process were not followed.
During the hearing, all parties had agreed for a fact-finding committee by a retired judge. The court while ordering so said that these proceedings would be limited to only those cases, where a person had approached either the high court or the Supreme Court.
“Since this batch of matters involves various disputed questions of fact that cannot be determined either by the high court or this court in the exercise of their respective writ jurisdictions; and since the issues are necessarily causing uncertainty over the smooth functioning of the elected municipal bodies, we appoint justice Nirmaljit Kaur, former judge of the Punjab and Haryana HC to perform the above illustrated task,” the bench said, making it clear that appointment of the fact-finding commission will not be a precedent.
The government has been told to pay her an honorarium of ₹5 lakh per month besides an official vehicle and secretarial assistance. She will be entitled to engage a retired judicial officer of her choice and one private secretary to assist in day to-day functioning. The state has been told to provide a suitable office space in in Chandigarh or Mohali to convene the proceedings. The matter will be taken up again on May 22.
