HC issues contempt notice to Punjab poll panel chief

Chandigarh: The Punjab and Haryana high court has issued a notice on a contempt petition against Punjab state election commissioner Raj Kumar Chaudhuri for alleged non-compliance with court directions on implementing an optional online nomination filing system for local body elections.The petition was filed by HC lawyer Nikhil Thamman, who alleged that the Punjab State Election Commission failed to act on his representation seeking online nomination filing for elections to municipal corporations, municipal councils and panchayati raj institutions in Punjab.Hearing the matter, Justice Vikas Bahl issued a notice of motion to the Punjab SEC for May 27, asking why contempt proceedings should not be initiated.The earlier PIL had highlighted recurring incidents of violence, clashes, tearing of nomination papers and obstruction of candidates during local body polls in Punjab.In the earlier case, a division bench comprising Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Sanjiv Berry had directed the Punjab SEC to decide the petitioner's representation dated December 14, 2025, through a speaking order within 60 days and communicate the decision to him.