Punjab SEC asks DGP to enforce strict police neutrality during Zila Parishad, Panchayat Samiti polls
Babushahi Bureau
Chandigarh, December 12, 2025:The Punjab State Election Commission (SEC) has issued a strong advisory to the Director General of Police, directing all police personnel deployed for the December 14 Zila Parishad and Panchayat Samiti elections to maintain complete neutrality and ensure a free, fair, and transparent polling process.
The directive follows the Punjab and Haryana High Court’s instruction to the SEC to ensure that police officials on election duty conduct themselves in a strictly non-partisan manner. The Commission emphasised that public faith in the electoral process must not be allowed to erode under any circumstance.
Click the link to read the order copy:https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qd0cciApsc1UuzcYO8IdHdhK80asaSHP/view?usp=sharing
The SEC noted that the upcoming polls will be fiercely contested as they are being held on party lines, making it critical for the police to demonstrate fairness and impartiality at all times. It raised concerns over a recent viral audio clip allegedly involving a senior Patiala police officer, which the Commission said had harmed public perception of police neutrality.
In its detailed guidelines, the SEC instructed:
- All SHOs and police officers to act in a neutral, non-partisan manner and respond to complaints regardless of political affiliation.
- Strict political neutrality by avoiding any appearance of support to a party or candidate.
- No police officer should attend political events except when officially deployed for security.
- DSPs must examine cases where blank or vague FIRs could enable misuse against political opponents.
- No illegal detentions or intimidation of candidates, supporters, or voters will be tolerated.
The Commission also reiterated operational directives for election day, including:
- Updated risk assessments of sensitive polling locations.
- Adequate deployment of police personnel, with focus on SC-dominated and high-risk areas.
- Nakas, patrolling, and strict action against troublemakers, impersonation, voter intimidation, or display of weapons.
- Security of polling parties and material during dispatch and return.
- Round-the-clock security at all storage centres until counting on December 17, supervised by a gazetted officer.