IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH C.W.P. No. 12186 of 2008 DATE OF DECISION: NOVEMBER 05, 2008 Jagjit Singh .....PETITIONER Versus State of Punjab and others ....RESPONDENTS CORAM: HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE SATISH KUMAR MITTAL HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE JASWANT SINGH --- Present: Mr. Onkar Singh, Advocate, for the petitioner. Mr.M.S.Sindhu, Addl.A.G.,Punjab, for respondents No.1 to 4. Mr.M.S.Dhami, Advocate, for respondent No.5. .. SATISH KUMAR MITTAL, J. (Oral) The petitioner, who has been elected as a Panch against the seat meant for General Category, has filed this petition under Articles 226/227 of the Constitution of India for quashing the Instructions dated 27.5.2008 (Annexure P-3) wherein it has been explained that a woman Panch can also contest the election for the office of Sarpanch of the Gram Panchayat, which is reserved for General Category. The contention of the petitioner is that only the Panch, who has been elected as `Male Panch' from the seat meant for general candidate, can contest the election for the office of Sarpanch which is reserved for General (Male). CWP No.12186 of 2008 -2- After hearing the counsel for the parties, we do not find any merit in the aforesaid contention raised by the learned counsel for the petitioner as in our opinion, in view of the judgment of the Supreme Court in Kasambhai F.Ghanchi v. Chandubhai D.Rajput and others, 1998(2) PLR 611, a woman Panch can also contest the election for the office of Sarpanch of the Gram Panchayat, which is reserved for General Category. Hence, we do not find any merit in this petition and the same is hereby dismissed. (SATISH KUMAR MITTAL) JUDGE November 05, 2008 ( JASWANT SINGH ) vkg JUDGE