CWP-22922-2026 -1- IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH Sr. No.116 CWP-22922-2026 Date of decision: 28.07.2026 Karnail Kaur and others ....Petitioners Versus The State of Punjab and others ....Respondents CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE DEEPAK SIBAL HON'BLE MS. JUSTICE RUPINDERJIT CHAHAL Present: Mr. Arshdeep Singh Sra, Advocate, for the petitioners. Mr. Raghav Garg, AAG, Punjab. * * * DEEPAK SIBAL, J. (Oral) 1. Through this petition, the petitioner seeks issuance of directions to the State to convene a meeting of the newly elected members of the Nagar Panchayat, Lehra Mohabbat so that oath of allegiance can be administered to them as also elections to the post of President and Vice- President(s) can be held. 2. At the outset, learned State counsel submits that the meeting, as above, shall be convened within 10 days from today; the entire meeting and the venue from the outside, from all possible angles, shall be got videographed, which videography shall include the process of voting by the members by raising of hands; the CCTV/videographed material, along with copies of the written proceedings of the meeting, in original, shall be preserved under the care and custody of Deputy Commissioner, Bathinda JYOTI SHARMA 2026.07.29 14:21 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document chandigarh CWP-22922-2026 -2- for a period of 06 months; adequate security, if so required, shall also be made available where the afore meeting/elections are going to take place and that to ensure fairness in the conduct of the afore meeting, the State has also no objection to the appointment of independent Observer(s). 3. We hold that the State shall remain bound by the afore statement made before us. 4. Further, Mr. Rohan Mittal, Advocate alongwith Ms. Dheerja, Advocate are appointed as Observers who shall remain present throughout the proceedings of the meeting to be convened for administering oath of allegiance to the newly elected members of Nagar Panchayat, Lehra Mohabbat and also to elect therein the President and Vice President(s). 5. Deputy Commissioner, Bathinda is directed to inform the appointed Observers at least 48 hours before the meeting, as above, is to be convened. Such information shall be sent to the appointed Observers through email, whatsapp and a letter to be served upon him through a special messenger. Details with regard to their e-mail, whatsapp and addresses shall be forthwith shared by the appointed Observers with Mr. Raghav Garg, Assistant Advocate General, Punjab. 6. The appointed Observers shall reach the office of the Deputy Commissioner, Bathinda on the date of the meeting at least 03 hours before the scheduled time after which the Deputy Commissioner, Bathinda shall ensure that the appointed Observers securely reach the venue of the meeting well before the meeting commences. 7. After the afore meeting concludes, the Deputy Commissioner, Bathinda shall make arrangements for securely bringing back the appointed JYOTI SHARMA 2026.07.29 14:21 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document chandigarh CWP-22922-2026 -3- Observers from the venue of the meeting to the office of the Deputy Commissioner, Bathinda. 8. The appointed Observers shall be at liberty to take photographs/video of the proceedings both inside and outside the venue. 9. The report of the Observers, with photographs/video, if any, shall be submitted to this Court in a sealed cover to be kept in the safe custody of Registrar (Judicial) of this Court for a period of six months. 10. As agreed by learned counsel for the petitioners, fee in advance @ Rs.1 lakh and Rs.25,000/- shall be paid by the petitioner to Mr. Rohan Mittal, Advocate and Ms. Dheerja, Advocate, respectively. Such payment shall include all out-of-pocket expenses which may be incurred by the appointed Observers. 11. A copy of this order be supplied to learned counsel for the parties, for compliance. 12. The petition is disposed of in the above terms. (DEEPAK SIBAL) JUDGE (RUPINDERJIT CHAHAL) JUDGE July 28, 2026 Jyoti 1 Whether speaking/reasoned Yes/No Whether reportable Yes/No JYOTI SHARMA 2026.07.29 14:21 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document chandigarh