New Delhi, August 15, 2025 — In a landmark decision underscoring the sanctity of every vote, the Supreme Court of India has overturned the result of a Sarpanch election in Haryana’s Panipat district after a court-supervised recount of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) revealed a discrepancy in the original tally.
The case stemmed from the November 2022 election in Buana Lakhu village, where candidate Kuldeep Singh was declared the winner. His rival, Mohit Kumar, challenged the outcome, alleging irregularities in the vote count. After lower courts failed to resolve the dispute, Kumar escalated the matter to the Supreme Court.
In an unprecedented move, the apex court summoned all six EVMs used in the election and ordered a fresh recount under the supervision of its Registrar. The recount, conducted on August 6 and fully videographed, revealed that Mohit Kumar had actually secured 1,051 votes, surpassing Kuldeep Singh’s 1,000 votes.
Delivering its verdict on August 11, the Supreme Court accepted the recount findings and directed the Deputy Commissioner of Panipat to officially declare Mohit Kumar as the elected Sarpanch within two days.
Legal experts have hailed the decision as a powerful affirmation of democratic integrity. “This ruling sends a clear message: no election is too small for judicial scrutiny,” said constitutional scholar Dr. Meera Sharma. “It also reinforces the need for robust safeguards in EVM-based voting.”
The case has reignited public debate over the reliability of electronic voting systems and may prompt calls for reform and enhanced transparency in local elections.
