123 IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH Date of Decision: 01.04.2026 RANA INDER PRATAP SINGH AND OTHERS .....Petitioners Versus STATE OF PUNJAB AND OTHERS ........Respondents CORAM : HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE HARSIMRAN SINGH SETHI HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE DEEPAK MANCHANDA Present: Mr. Sunil Chadha, Senior Advocate with Mr. Rajinder Singh Bhatta, Advocate and Mr. Raghav Chadha, Advocate for the petitioners.

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HARSIMRAN SINGH SETHI , J. (Oral)

1. The present petition has been filed by the petitioners seeking issuance of directions to respondents to ensure free, fair, democratic and transparent conduct of elections for the post of Chairman and Vice Chairman of Panchayat Samiti, Fattu Dhinga, Tehsil Sultanpur Lodhi, District Kapurthala with a further direction that the entire voting process be videographed.

2. Learned Senior counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioners submits that though the voting for election to the post of Chairman and Vice Chairman of Panchayat Samiti, Fattu Dhinga, Tehsil Sultanpur Lodhi, District Kapurthala has been fixed for today but, the same is not being done in a manner required rather, a situation of lawlessness is being created. Learned Senior counsel for the petitioners further submits that appropriate directions needs to be given to the authorities concerned for holding a peaceful, free and fair election to the said post and similar directions as being sought have already been given by this Court while passing order in CWP No.7832-2026 titled as ‘Taranjit Singh and others v. State Of Punjab And others’, decided on 13.03.2026 be implemented qua the elections in Panchayat Samiti, Fattu Dhinga, Tehsil Sultanpur Lodhi, District Kapurthala as well. Hence, the present petition may kindly be disposed of in the same terms as held in Taranjit Singh's case (supra).

3. Notice of motion.

4. Mr. Rahul Rampal, Addl. A.G., Punjab, appears and accepts notice on behalf of the respondent-State.

5. Learned State counsel submits that though the elections for the post of Chairman and Vice Chairman of Panchayat Samiti, Fattu Dhinga, Tehsil Sultanpur Lodhi, District Kapurthala were fixed for today but, the same has already been postponed to be held now on 04.04.2026. Learned State counsel submits that the directions issued by this Court for holding the elections, as passed in Taranjit Singh’s case (supra) will also be made applicable while conducting the elections to the post of Chairman and Vice Chairman of Panchayat Samiti, Fattu Dhinga, Tehsil Sultanpur Lodhi, District Kapurthala on 04.04.2026.

6. Learned Senior counsel for the petitioners submits that although, the grievance of the petitioners qua holding of the elections in a free and fair manner has been redressed.

7. We have heard learned counsel for the parties and have gone through the case file with their able assistance.

8. Keeping in view the agreement reached at between the parties, the present petition is disposed of in same terms as held in Taranjit Singh's case (supra). For the ready reference, the order dated 13.03.2026 passed in Taranjit Singh's case (supra) is reproduced here under:

“1. The present petition has been filed by the petitioners seeking issuance of directions to the official respondents to ensure free, fair, democratic, transparent elections for the post of Chairman and Vice Chairman of Panchayat Samiti Dera Baba Nanak, District Gurdaspur, which are scheduled to be held on 17.03.2026.

2. Learned counsel for the petitioners prays that the election proceedings be videographed so that free and fair elections for the posts of Chairman and Vice- Chairman of Panchayat Samiti, Dera Baba Nanak are ensured and transparency is maintained.

3. Learned counsel for the petitioners further prays that the elections to the posts of Chairman and Vice-Chairman of Panchayat Samiti, Dera Baba Nanak be conducted through a system of secret ballot papers and the same be held in a neutral administrative location i.e. the office of the Deputy Commissioner instead of