Chandigarh, Feb. 4 -- The Punjab and Haryana high court on Tuesday directed the Punjab government not to proceed with the process of civic body elections for nine municipal corporations and around 100 municipal councils and municipal committees in the state. The order was passed by a division bench comprising justice HS Sethi and justice Vikas Suri while hearing a batch of petitions filed from various districts challenging the delimitation of wards. A copy of the order is awaited.

Lawyers associated with the case, including SPS Tinna, confirmed the development. Reports had earlier suggested that the civic body polls could be held in February-March this year.

The court passed the order after the state's chief secretary failed to comply w...