IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH. C.W.P. No. 14038 of 2008 DATE OF DECISION : 08.08.2008 Baldev and others .... PETITIONERS Versus State of Punjab and others ..... RESPONDENTS CORAM :- HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SATISH KUMAR MITTAL HON'BLE MRS. JUSTICE DAYA CHAUDHARY Present: Ms. Sushma Chopra, Advocate, for the petitioners. * * * SATISH KUMAR MITTAL , J. ( Oral ) The petitioners, who have been elected as Panches of Gram Panchayat, Village Dhandowal, Tehsil Shahkot, District Jalandhar, have filed this petition under Articles 226/227 of the Constitution of India for directing the respondents to immediately call the meeting of Gram Panchayat, Village Dhandowal for holding the election to the office of Sarpanch. It is case of the petitioners that on 18.7.2008, a meeting of the Panches for election of Sarpanch was convened and all the petitioners were present, but respondents No.4 to 6 were not present. Thereafter, the second meeting of the Panches was called on 22.7.2008, but the election for the office of Sarpanch could not be held. Thereafter, no meeting has been held. Counsel for the petitioners has stated at bar that till date, no meeting for electing the Sarpanch has been convened. CWP No. 14038 of 2008 -2- Notice of motion. On our asking, Mr. N.S. Virk, Addl. Advocate General, Punjab, who is present in Court, accepts notice on behalf of respondents No.1 to 3. We have heard counsel for the parties. In a similar case i.e. CWP No. 12694 of 2008, titled as Gurmeet Singh versus State of Punjab and others, decided on July 23, 2008, this Court has issued general directions to conduct the election of the Sarpanch in accordance with the provisions of the Punjab Panchayati Raj Act, 1994. Keeping in view the said direction, we dispose of this petition with a direction to the Deputy Commissioner, Jalandhar that if the election of Sarpanch of Gram Panchayat, Village Dhandowal, Tehsil Shahkot, District Jalandhar has not been held so far, the same be conducted within a period of seven days, after giving three days' prior notice to all the Panches, in accordance with the directions, already given by this Court in CWP No. 12694 of 2008. It is further directed that election of the Sarpanch will be held in the Village itself. Copy of this order be given dasti to counsel for the parties under the signatures of the Bench Secretary. ( SATISH KUMAR MITTAL ) JUDGE August 08, 2008 ( DAYA CHAUDHARY ) ndj JUDGE