Rashpal Singh And Others v. State Of Punjab And Others
IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA
AT CHANDIGARH Date of decision : 05.05.2026 CWP-13863-2026 Rashpal Singh and others
...Petitioners
Vs.
State of Punjab and others
...Respondent(s)
CWP-13966-2026 Rajni Bala
...Petitioner
Vs.
State of Punjab and others
...Respondent(s)
CWP-13575-2026 Surjan Singh
...Petitioner
Vs.
State of Punjab and others
...Respondent(s)
CWP-13618-2026 Avtar Singh Kalra and others
...Petitioners
Vs.
State of Punjab and others
...Respondent(s)
CWP-13739-2026 Harsimran Singh and others
...Petitioners
Vs.
State of Punjab and others
...Respondent(s)
CWP-13752-2026 Dimple and others
...Petitioners
Vs.
State of Punjab and others
...Respondent(s)
CWP-13336-2026 Sukhwinder Singh and others
...Petitioners
Vs.
State of Punjab and others
...Respondent(s)
CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE HARSIMRAN SINGH SETHI HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE DEEPAK MANCHANDA
Present:
Mr. Puneet Jindal, Sr. Advocate with Mr. Rahul Bansal, Advocate for the petitioners in CWP-13618-2026.
Mr. Pardeep K.Bajaj, Advocate and Mr. Kuljit Singh, Advocate for the petitioners in CWP-13863 and 13336-2026.
Mr. Mitul Singh Rana, Advocate for the petitioner in CWP-13966-2026.
Ms. Madhu Bala, Advocate for Mr. A.S.Dhindsa, Advocate for the petitioners in CWP-13575-2026.
Mr. Abhilaksh Grover, Advocate for the petitioners in CWP-13739-2026.
Mr. Amardeep Singh, Advocate for the petitioners in CWP-13752-2026.
Mr. Jastej Singh, Addl.A.G.Punjab.
Mr. Maninder Singh Garcha, Sr. Advocate with Mr. Priyanka Dhillon, Advocate for respondent No.4 in CWP-13739-2026.
Ms. Sangam Garg, Advocate for respondent No.3 in CWP-13575-2026.
Mr. Sanjeev Soni, Advocate for respondent No.3 in CWP-13966-2026.
Mr. D.S.Randhawa, Advocate for respondent No.6 in CWP-13618-2016.
Mr. Inderjeet Sihag, Advocate for the respondent Nos.4 to 6 in CWP-13336-2026. Mr. Bhanu Pratp Singh, Advocate for respondent No.3 in CWP-13752-2026 and for respondent No.6 in CWP-13863-2026.
Ms. Mehak Kanwar, Advocate for respondent No.4 in CWP-13739-2026.
***
HARSIMRAN SINGH SETHI , J.(Oral) Reply by way of short affidavit of Ms. Rajdeep Kaur, Secretary, State Election Commission, Punjab on behalf of respondent No.3 in CWP13618-2026 has been taken on record. Main case 1.
In the present bunch of petitions, the grievance being raised by the petitioner(s) is twofold:- The first grievance raised is that keeping in view the delimitation of wards on the basis of which the forthcoming election to the various municipal corporation and municipal council are to be undertaken, has already been identified by the State to mean that any valid delimitation finalized upto 31.12.2025, will be considered for conducting the elections to the various municipal corporation and municipal council. The detail of the said delimitation exercise has already been brought to the notice of Punjab State Election Commission vide letter dated 07.04.2026, which will be adhered to by the Election Commission for finalizing the voter list of each ward, so that the forthcoming election could be smoothly conducted without there being any objections to anyone residing in various wards of the concerned municipal corporation/municipal council.
2.
Learned Senior counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioners in CWP-13618-2026 argues that though, the final voter list was to be issued up to 05.05.2026. Although, the proposed voter list was duly published on the District Election Office's official website and certain objections were raised, but their objections have not been decided till date and as per the schedule, the
same were to be decided by 30.04.2026. Learned Senior Counsel further submits that as per the reply filed, the said objections have been decided by the respondent, by passing a speaking order dated 30.04.2026, however, no order accepting or rejecting the objections has been brought to the notice of the concerned objector(s), hence, the Punjab State Election Commission may kindly be directed to give them the order so that they can decide the further course of action in case, their objections to the proposed voter list have not been accepted and the grievance of the petitioner(s) still remains. 3.
Learned counsel appearing on behalf of the State on instructions from Ms. Rajdeep Kaur, Secretary, Punjab State Election Commission, who is present in Court submits that the order rejecting/accepting the objections dated 30.04.2026 will be given to the counsel concerned during the course of the day today either in person or through the WhatsApp message on their respective mobile numbers. This satisfies the learned counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioner(s).
4.
Learned Senior Counsel submits that in case the objections to the tentative voter list are not accepted, there is a remedy of an appeal before the appellate authority against the finalization of the voter list which will be availed by the petitioner(s) before the Punjab State Election Commission. Learned counsel for the respondent submits that in case such appeal is preferred within the time frame as prescribed under law, the same will be decided in accordance with law.
5.
The second question, which has been raised by the learned counsel for the petitioner(s) is that vide notification dated 16.04.2026, certain wards have been reserved by the State in favour of various categories.
6.
Learned counsel for the respondent(s) submits that the issue with regard to the reservation of the wards in favour of reserved category candidate or the women, as the case may be, the rotation as provided under Rules have been adhered to, but still in case anyone has any grievance with regard to the reservation of a particular ward, in that case if any such representation is received, within next 48 hours, the same will be processed in accordance with law and appropriate order on the same will be passed by the competent authority. In case, as per the rotation policy, the objection raised needs to be accepted, the same will be accepted, so as to rectify notification dated 16.04.2026 or any other notification reserving the ward, otherwise, due reasons will be mentioned for not accepting the said objection which will be conveyed to the objector concerned.
7.
Learned counsel for the respondent submits that for reservation of ward, the rotation policy has been finalized by the Government after due consultation and keeping in view the provisions as specified for such rotation within the rules which provide for the reservation for women and other reserved category.
8.
Learned counsel submits that all efforts are made to reserve the ward in accordance with law and the same will only be changed in case, anybody raises the objection to the same and such objections are found to be in accordance with the policy of the Government, otherwise, the notification dated 16.04.2026 will not be changed.
9.
With the above observations, the present bunch of petitions stand disposed of.
10.
Pending civil miscellaneous application, if any, stands disposed of.
11.
A photocopy of this order be placed on the file of connected case(s).
(HARSIMRAN SINGH SETHI) JUDGE (DEEPAK MANCHANDA) JUDGE 05.05.2026 vanita Whether speaking/reasoned :
Yes Whether Reportable :
No