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New Delhi: In a rare and unprecedented move, the Supreme Court summoned Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and records from Buana Lakhu village in Haryana’s Panipat district and conducted a recount of votes for the post of Sarpanch right on its premises — ultimately reversing the declared result.
The recount was carried out on August 6 by the Court’s Officer on Special Duty (Registrar) Kaveri in the presence of both parties, their lawyers, and under complete videography. Following the exercise, the Bench headed by Justice Surya Kant, and comprising Justices Dipankar Datta and N Kotiswar Singh, declared appellant Mohit Kumar as the duly elected Sarpanch, replacing earlier winner Kuldeep Singh.
Rare Judicial Intervention
The election was originally held on November 22, 2022, with Kuldeep Singh declared the winner. Mohit Kumar challenged the result before the Additional Civil Judge-cum-Election Tribunal, which on April 22, 2025, ordered a recount of votes for Booth No. 69. However, the Punjab and Haryana High Court set aside this order on July 1, 2025.
Aggrieved, Kumar moved the Supreme Court, which on July 31 ordered that all booths (Nos. 65 to 70) be recounted in Delhi by a court-appointed Registrar — not just the disputed booth.
Final Count
The recount revealed that of 3,767 total votes polled, Mohit Kumar had secured 1,051 votes, defeating Kuldeep Singh, who polled 1,000. The result was endorsed by both parties’ representatives and videographed in entirety.
The court directed the Deputy Commissioner-cum-Election Officer, Panipat, to issue a notification within two days declaring Mohit Kumar elected. “The appellant shall be entitled to assume office forthwith and perform his duties,” the Bench said, while clarifying that any residual disputes could still be taken up before the Election Tribunal.
