SC sets up fact-finding panel to probe Patiala MC poll ‘violations’

The Supreme Court has appointed a fact-finding commission under a former judge of Punjab and Haryana high court to inquire into allegations of procedural lapses, violation of norms and violence, during municipal polls in Patiala in December last. Supreme Court of India The Supreme Court bench of justice Surya Kant and justice NK Singh has appointed justice Nirmaljeet Kaur and asked her to take up the matter on day-to-day basis and submit a report at the earliest. HS Oberoi, one of the lawyer for petitioners, and state government counsel, Ferry Sofat said the panel would also look into similar complaints reported in the election of municipal committee, Dharamkot. “Since this batch of matters involves various disputed questions of fact that cannot be determined either by the high court or this court in the exercise of their respective writ jurisdictions; and since the issues are necessarily causing uncertainty over the smooth functioning of the elected municipal bodies, we appoint justice Nirmaljit Kaur, former judge of the Punjab and Haryana HC to perform the above illustrated task,” the bench said, making it clear that appointment of the fact-finding commission will not be a precedent.