The affected wards include 28 in Patiala and 22 in Moga. The court’s decision followed findings of a fact-finding commission appointed to examine allegations of malpractice during the elections.
The commission reported instances involving destruction of nomination papers and alleged threats and assaults against candidates. A bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant accepted the commission’s recommendations and directed the Punjab and Haryana High Court Chief Justice to appoint a retired judge to head a monitoring committee.
The committee has been asked to oversee the fresh election process to ensure that the exercise is conducted fairly and without further disruption. The ruling comes as a significant judicial intervention in a local-body election dispute