High Court ordered decision on online enrollment (file photo)
State Bureau, Chandigarh. Punjab and Haryana High Court has directed the State Election Commissioner to take a decision within 60 days on the demand for implementation of online nomination system in local body and Panchayati Raj elections.
The order came on a PIL filed by advocate Nikil Thaman, seeking an alternative online system to prevent violence and chaos during physical enrolment.
The court directed the Commission to consider the representation petition filed by the petitioner on December 14, 2025 and pass a "speaking order" and communicate its decision to the petitioner. This order was passed by the division bench of Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Sanjeev Beri while disposing of the PIL.
This PIL was filed by advocate Nikil Thamman. The petition said that during the Gram Panchayat, Panchayat Samiti, Zilla Parishad, Municipal Corporation and Municipal Council elections in Punjab, clashes, incidents of tearing of nominations and chaos are often seen at the time of filing of nominations, which affects the fairness of the election process.
The petitioner told the court that in almost every election, videos of incidents like fighting outside nomination centres, stopping candidates and snatching of papers have been coming to the fore. The petition also mentioned that in an earlier case related to local body elections, allegations of preventing candidates from reaching the nomination centers had come to light, which had also raised questions on administrative impartiality.
The petition argued that the present system of filing nominations only physically, in view of the recurring incidents of violence, is not in accordance with the principles of fair and free elections under Articles 14, 19, 21, 243-K and 243-ZA of the Constitution. Therefore, an alternative online nomination system should be introduced in local body elections also on the lines of the “Suvidha” platform adopted by the Election Commission in Parliament and Assembly elections.
While disposing of the petition, the division bench directed the Election Commission to consider the demand of the petitioner and take a decision within the stipulated time limit.
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