Archive · 9 Oct 2026
Supreme Court Orders Fresh Elections in 50 Punjab Wards
India’s Supreme Court ordered new elections in 50 local wards in Punjab.
There are 28 affected wards in Patiala district and 22 in Moga.
The earlier local elections took place on December 21, 2024.
A court-appointed commission found that candidates had faced serious problems when trying to file nomination papers.
It said papers were taken, torn or destroyed and candidates were threatened, detained or assaulted.
The court said the new elections must be finished within six weeks.
Observers will monitor the process, and important election stages must be recorded on video.
The Punjab government said it did not object to the commission’s recommendations.
The BJP praised the ruling and called for Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to resign.
The reports give September 28 as the date of the court order but also say the commission submitted its report on November 18, 2025, so those dates appear inconsistent.
The Supreme Court set aside elections in 50 Punjab municipal wards: 28 in Patiala district and 22 in Moga.
A commission led by former High Court judge Nirmaljit Kaur found widespread obstruction during nominations, including papers being seized, torn or destroyed and candidates being assaulted, detained or threatened.
The court ordered fresh elections to be completed within six weeks and directed that key election stages be videographed in the presence of observers.
The Punjab government, represented by Kapil Sibal, told the court it had no objection to the commission’s recommendations.
The BJP welcomed the ruling, accused the AAP-led Punjab government of undermining democracy and demanded Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s resignation.
- Who
- The Supreme Court of India, a commission led by Nirmaljit Kaur, the Punjab government and the BJP.
- What
- The court set aside elections in 50 municipal wards and ordered fresh polls with observers and video recording.
- When
- The original elections were held on December 21, 2024. The court order is dated September 28; reports also state that the commission submitted its report on November 18, 2025, creating a date inconsistency.
- Where
- Punjab: 28 wards in Patiala district and 22 in Moga.
- Why
- The commission found widespread obstruction during nominations, including papers being seized or destroyed and candidates being assaulted, detained or threatened.
BJP
Punjab Government
Political responsibility for the election failures
BJP
The BJP accused the Punjab government of failing to ensure free and fair civic polls, described the situation as a collapse of democracy and demanded Bhagwant Mann’s resignation.
Punjab Government
The Punjab government’s stated position in court was that it had no objection to the commission’s recommendations. The reports do not provide a response to the BJP’s accusations or resignation demand.
Response to the court’s findings
BJP
The BJP welcomed the ruling and called for people involved in obstructing candidates’ nominations to be arrested.
Punjab Government
The government did not oppose the commission’s recommendations; the court ordered fresh elections with observers and video recording.
- Wards affected
- 50
- Ward locations
- 28 in Patiala district; 22 in Moga
- Original election date
- December 21, 2024
- Commission chair
- Former High Court judge Nirmaljit Kaur
- Re-election deadline
- Within six weeks
- Election oversight
- At least two or three senior members of the Punjab and Haryana High Court bar to serve as observers
- Recording requirements
- Nomination filing, scrutiny, symbol allocation and polling are to be videographed
- Date inconsistency in reports
- The order is dated September 28, while one report says the commission submitted its report on November 18, 2025
Sources
Punjab: Supreme Court sets aside polls in 50 wards, orders re-elections in six weeks
Democracy murdered in Punjab, Mann must resign: BJP after SC cancels civic polls
SC sets aside polls in 50 Punjab wards
SC Sets Aside Elections in 50 Wards in Punjab, Orders Fresh Polls