New Delhi: In an unprecedented move, the Supreme Court ordered a recount of votes using electronic voting machines (EVMs) and other election records within its premises, overturning the result of the sarpanch election for Buana Lakhu gram panchayat in Haryana’s Panipat district.
The recount, conducted by the court’s OSD (Registrar) Kaveri in the presence of both parties and their lawyers, was fully videographed.
A bench headed by Justice Surya Kant, and comprising Justices Dipankar Datta and N. Koteshwar Singh, directed the Panipat Deputy Commissioner–Returning Officer to declare Mohit Kumar as the elected sarpanch within two days. Kumar has been asked to take charge immediately.
The dispute arose from the November 2, 2022, election in which Kuldeep Singh was declared the winner. Kumar had challenged the result before the Panipat Election Tribunal, which ordered a limited recount in April 2025. The Punjab and Haryana High Court later quashed this order, prompting Kumar to move the Supreme Court.
The apex court expanded the recount to all booths, which gave Kumar 1,051 votes out of 3,767, compared to Singh’s 1,000 votes. The bench clarified that either party could still raise issues before the election tribunal.
