HC declines stay on delimitation of Panchayat wards

Punjab and Haryana High Court today declined to stay the ongoing process of delimitation of Panchayat wards being carried out in the state.
Punjab Congress President Partap Singh Bajwa had filed a petition seeking quashing of the ongoing process of delimitation of Panchayat wards alleging grave irregularities, and seeking directions to the state to undertake the process afresh.
A Division Bench of the High Court comprising Justice G S Sandhawalia and Justice Amol Rattan Singh declined the prayer for the stay and issued notices to the state of Punjab, Rural Development and Panchayat Minister S S Rakhra and 22 Deputy Commissioners of as many districts, among other respondents to file their replies by April 26.

Bajwa had sought to argue the case personally, but was not allowed to do so on the ground that he had filed his petition through a counsel.
"Since the petition has been filed through a counsel, it cannot be argued personally by Bajwa," the bench said, adding, to argue personally he should have filed the petition himself.
Bajwa alleged in the petition that numerous complaints had been received alleging grave irregularities in the process of delimitation of the Panchayat wards.
"The irregularities were being committed by the respondents with malafide and insidious designs," the PPCC Chief claimed in the petition.