New Delhi, May 25 (H.S.): The Supreme Court of India on Monday declined to hear a petition seeking the conduct of Punjab municipal body elections through Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).

A bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant observed that the petitioner had approached the court belatedly and stated that the court did not wish to interfere or cause any disruption in the ongoing election process at this stage.

The court also rejected a request for the appointment of observers for the elections.

The petition was filed by Ruchita Garg, who argued that the State Election Commission of Punjab was conducting municipal elections through ballot papers, whereas the Supreme Court, in an earlier ADR-related case, had directed the use of EVMs for elections.

The petitioner had earlier approached the Punjab and Haryana High Court, which refused to interfere in the decision of the State Election Commission. The State Election Commission had informed the High Court that the Central Election Commission had not supplied EVMs on time, due to which it was compelled to conduct the elections using ballot papers.

The High Court order was subsequently challenged before the Supreme Court.

Notably, elections to 104 municipal bodies, including eight municipal councils in Punjab, are scheduled to be held on May 26, with counting of votes set for May 29.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar