PHAGWARA: After a six-year hiatus, the much-anticipated elections of the City Club in Phagwara were successfully and peacefully conducted today. A total of 342 out of 391 registered members exercised their voting rights, marking a high turnout that reflected the renewed enthusiasm among club members.
The election, which had been pending for years due to internal disputes and legal proceedings, was finally held under the supervision of Returning Officer and Naib Tehsildar Jaswinder Singh. As per directions issued by the Hon’ble Punjab and Haryana High Court, the votes were cast using two separate ballot boxes—one for old members and one for newly inducted members—ensuring transparency in light of ongoing legal scrutiny.
The High Court had earlier ordered this bifurcated voting procedure in response to a writ petition filed by Parmjeet Singh Khurana and Ashok Parashar, through their legal counsel Advocate Karanjot Singh Jhikka. The petition challenged the legitimacy of around 60 new members who were allegedly inducted into the club at a substantially lower membership fee of ₹11, 000. The petitioners contended that these members were admitted in violation of the club’s established norms and that their inclusion could impact the fairness of the election process.
In compliance with the court’s interim directive, the administration ensured that the votes from the old and new members were sealed separately. The counting of the votes will not take place until the Hon’ble High Court issues further instructions, leaving the final outcome pending judicial review.
Despite the underlying tension and legal challenges, the election process was completed without any incidents of unrest. Both factions—one led by Parmjeet Singh Khurana and the other by Hardeep Singh Deepa—participated in the voting process, further legitimizing the day’s proceedings.
Photographs from the polling site depicted a scene of orderly participation, underscoring the mature and cooperative spirit with which the elections were conducted.
The peaceful conduct of today’s election is being viewed as a positive development in the efforts to restore democratic functioning and governance within the City Club. However, the final resolution regarding the eligibility of the new members—and the eventual declaration of the election results—will depend on the High Court's forthcoming verdict.