IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB & HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH CWP No. 7756 of 2008 Date of decision:14-5-2008 Kamikar Singh --- Petitioner Versus State of Punjab and others ---- Respondents CORAM: Hon'ble Mr. Justice K.S.Garewal Hon'ble Mrs. Justice Daya Chaudhary Present: Mr. Harkesh Manuja, Advocate, for the petitioner. K.S.Garewal, J. ( Oral) The petitioner's grievance is that the results of the elections to the Panchayat Samitis and Zila Parishads in Punjab should not be declared until elections to the Gram Panchayats are held. The elections to the Panchayati Raj Institutions are being held in two phases. Voters went to the polls to elect the members of the Zila Parishads and Panchayat Samitis on May 12, 2006 and the election process is to be completed by May 15, 2008. However, the date for polling for Gram Panchayats is May 26, 2008. According to learned counsel for the petitioner, the results of the Zila Parishads and Panchayat Samitis are likely to influence the minds of the voters when they would come to cast votes for Gram Panchayats. We are unable to understand the logic behind this because at the Gram Panchayat level the issues are local, which are confined to the respective village or neighbouring villages CWP No. 7756 of 2008 (2) and the results of Zila Parishads and Panchayat Samitis would not really influence the minds of the voters while thinking of local issues, which are important to them. Learned counsel also argued that the elections are being fought on party lines. If this is the case then none of the parties are aggrieved. Furthermore, the State Election Commission must have been aware of the two phased elections and also aware of the likelihood of any influence being caused on the result of the second election by declaration of the result of the first elections. Inspite of this, the dates are nearly two weeks apart. We are not convinced that any prejudice would be caused or there would be any influence on minds of voters due to declaration of the result of first elections. Consequently the writ petition is dismissed. [K.S.Garewal] Judge [ Daya Chaudhary ] Judge May 14, 2008 `ask'