Jalandhar, Jan. 29 -- The Punjab and Haryana high court on Wednesday appointed a former high court judge, justice Harbans Lal, as an independent observer for the Phagwara mayoral polls to be held on February 1.

The division bench of the court passed the order after hearing the petition filed by Congress councillor Bikram Singh, who had claimed that the order passed by the high court regarding the January 25 elections was not complied with by the authorities.

The polls were to be held on January 25 and the high court had also given directions for the same. However, it got postponed after a ruckus during the first meeting of the newly elected councillors. On that day, the newly elected councillors were administered the oath of office, but...