The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Friday issued notice to the Haryana government and the State Election Commission on a Congress Councillor’s petition seeking directions to conduct elections to the posts of Senior Deputy Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Panchkula Municipal Corporation. A division bench of Justice Sudhir Singh and Justice Harsh Bunger also sought the response of Panchkula Municipal Corporation and its Mayor on the petition moved by Congress Councillor Akshaydeep Chaudhary.The Court will hear the matter next on March 13.The petition was moved just days after controversy arose in relation to the elections held for the post of mayor in neighbouring city Chandigarh. The Supreme Court recently observed that the conduct of the polls for Chandigarh Mayor amounted to "a mockery of democracy."
In relation to the Panchkula, Chaudhary (petitioner) stated that the positions of Senior Deputy Mayor and Deputy Mayor have been vacant for over three years since December 2020.This is despite the clear mandate under Municipal Corporation Act, 1994 and the Haryana Municipal Corporation Election Rules, 1994 for holding elections within 60 days of the notification of newly-elected municipal councillors, it was contended."This delay contravenes both statutory obligations and constitutional principles, significantly impacting democratic governance and the rule of law in Panchkula," the plea said.The petitioner further argued that the inaction undermines the democratic process and deprives the residents of Panchkula of their right to be represented in the Municipal Corporation's governance.It was also submitted that the delay violates the specific provisions of the 1994 Act, the 1994 Rules, as well as Articles 243R and 243S of the Constitution of India, which mandate regular elections for maintaining the essence of democratic governance at the municipal level.Thus, the petitioner said that elections for the posts of Senior Deputy Mayor and Deputy Mayor of the Municipal Corporation of Panchkula should be held in a fair and time-bound manner.Advocates Pratap Singh, Parth Singh, Ishwar Singh and Sachin Singh represented the petitioner.
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