Historic: Supreme Court orders first-ever EVM recount, changes Haryana panchayat poll result
PTC Web Desk: In a historic decision, the Supreme Court has, for the first time, summoned electronic voting machines (EVMs) and other election records to its premises for a recount, a move that overturned the result of a Haryana panchayat poll. The case involved the election for the post of Sarpanch of Buana Lakhu village in Panipat district, held on November 22, 2022. Initially, Kuldeep Singh was declared the winner over his rival Mohit Kumar.
Unhappy with the result, Mohit Kumar filed an election petition before the Additional Civil Judge (Senior Division)-cum-Election Tribunal of Panipat. On April 22, 2025, the tribunal ordered a recount of votes from booth number 69, instructing the Deputy Commissioner-cum-Election Officer of Panipat to carry it out on May 7, 2025.
However, this order was challenged, and on July 1, 2025, the Punjab and Haryana High Court set it aside. Dissatisfied with the high court’s ruling, Mohit Kumar approached the Supreme Court.
On July 31, 2025, a Bench led by Justice Surya Kant, along with Justices Dipankar Datta and N Kotiswar Singh, took note of the “peculiar facts and circumstances” of the case. The court issued a landmark order directing that all EVMs from the election — not just those from the disputed booth — be brought before the court for recounting.
The order instructed the Deputy Commissioner and District Election Officer of Panipat to produce all EVMs before a Registrar nominated by the Supreme Court’s Secretary General. The recounting was scheduled for August 6, 2025, and had to be video-recorded in the presence of both candidates or their authorised representatives.
On August 6, the recount was carried out by Supreme Court OSD (Registrar) Kaveri, covering booths numbered 65 to 70. According to the official report, of the 3,767 total votes cast, Mohit Kumar secured 1,051 votes, while his closest rival Kuldeep Singh received 1,000 votes.
The process was fully video-graphed, and the results were signed by representatives of both sides. Finding no reason to doubt the accuracy of the recount report, the Supreme Court accepted it as authentic.
In its August 11, 2025, order, the Bench declared Mohit Kumar as the duly elected Sarpanch of Buana Lakhu village. The court directed the Deputy Commissioner-cum-Election Officer, Panipat, to issue an official notification within two days and allow Kumar to immediately assume office and perform his duties. The court also clarified that any remaining issues between the parties could still be raised before the Election Tribunal.
- With inputs from agencies
