The Election Commission has opposed extending the storage of polling booth footage beyond 45 days, stating it could be “contrary to voter privacy and safety,” despite calls from opposition leaders for increased transparency in the election process.
The Supreme Court upheld a High Court order mandating Punjab to schedule municipal elections within fifteen days, addressing delays attributed to delimitation issues. The Court emphasized the necessity of these elections for local governance, dismissing the State’s appeal and highlighting the constitutional obligation to conduct timely elections, thereby reinforcing democratic processes in Punjab’s municipalities.
The Supreme Court of India refused to stay the ongoing panchayat elections in Punjab, warning of potential “chaos” from judicial intervention on polling day. The court emphasized the importance of maintaining democratic processes and allowed citizens to vote, despite numerous petitions challenging the election’s legitimacy. Local governance remains crucial for grassroots democracy.
