Historic Night Hearing by Rajasthan High Court Provides Relief to Councillors

Jodhpur: In a groundbreaking move, the Rajasthan High Court conducted a special hearing at night for the first time in its history. With the municipal elections approaching, concerns arose regarding the potential arrest of councillors and candidates. The court opened its doors around 10 PM on Sunday, and the proceedings continued until approximately 2 AM, during which an interim stay was placed on the arrests of several councillors.

Background of the Case

Ahead of the elections for the chairpersons of municipal councils, many councillors feared arrest in connection with old cases. Nine councillors from Hanumangarh and one from Bikaner approached the High Court, expressing concerns that police and Anti-Corruption Bureau actions could hinder their ability to vote.

With special permission from the Chief Justice, two separate single benches were formed.

• Justice Nupur Bhati's bench began hearing the petition of the nine councillors from Hanumangarh at 10 PM.


• Justice Sunil Beniwal's bench addressed the petition of Bikaner's Congress councillor, Maksood Ahmed (former UIT chairman).

Court's Ruling

The court issued an immediate interim stay on the arrests of the councillors in both cases, ensuring that their voting rights would not be compromised during the election process. Orders were issued around 11:15 PM for the Bikaner case and at 2 AM for the Hanumangarh case.

Earlier in the day, the court had also prevented the arrest of certain candidates and councillors from Kuchera (Nagaur) and Shri Vijaynagar.

Reason for Night Hearing

Given the proximity of the election date and the looming threat of arrests, the court arranged for this special session even on a holiday. This marked a historic first for the Rajasthan High Court, as hearings extended into the late hours.

As of now, the police have not released any official statements regarding the matter. Further hearings are scheduled for October.