Chandigarh: The Punjab and Haryana High Court has officially sanctioned a special casual leave on May 26, 2026, for all its judicial officers and administrative staff members who are registered electors in Punjab’s upcoming municipal elections. Approved directly by the Chief Justice, this administrative order ensures that court employees possess the necessary flexibility to travel to their respective constituencies and exercise their democratic franchise. To avail themselves of the single-day leave, eligible employees simply need to present their valid voter identification cards before the competent judicial authority.
This decision closely aligns with the statutory directives released by the Punjab State Election Commission regarding the synchronized general elections across various urban local bodies, encompassing multiple Municipal Corporations, Municipal Councils, and Nagar Panchayats. According to the gazetted election itinerary, active polling is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, May 26, from 8 AM to 5 PM. Following the collection and sealing of the electronic units, the official counting of votes will be executed on May 29, with the complete state-level electoral process bound to conclude by June 1, 2026.
The initial phases of the civic contest have already progressed past major bureaucratic milestones, having commenced with the candidate nomination window between May 13 and May 16. A meticulous scrutiny of all filed nomination papers was finalized by election observers on May 18, which was followed immediately by the final withdrawal deadline for contestants on May 19. To preserve the total absolute integrity of the civic mandate, the State Election Commission has strictly enforced the Model Code of Conduct across all participating municipalities, maintaining rigorous monitoring teams on the ground until the polling phase concludes.
