The Punjab and Haryana High Court Monday asked the Punjab State Election Commission (SEC) to expedite its inquiry into an audio clip at the centre of a major political row and allegations that Opposition candidates were prevented from filing nominations for the Zila Parishad elections.

A division bench of Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Sanjiv Berry was hearing PILs filed by Akali Dal leader Daljit Singh Cheema and Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa. Both alleged that returning officers and the district police had “systematically blocked” the filing of nomination papers by their party candidates in several districts, leading to mass rejections during scrutiny.

The SEC counsel produced a typed record of its actions, telling the court that on December 4 at 9.37 am, it received a

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