India, May 23 -- The Punjab and Haryana high court on Friday dismissed a batch of public interest litigations (PILs) seeking the use of electronic voting machines (EVMs) instead of ballot papers for the May 26 municipal elections in Punjab, holding that it was too late to interfere as the election process had reached an advanced stage.

The elections are scheduled for municipal corporations, municipal councils and nagar panchayats across the state. The counting will take place on May 29.

Among the petitions was one filed by Mohali-based advocate Ruchita Garg, who challenged the Punjab state election commission's (SEC) decision to conduct the polls through ballot papers. The petitioners argued that EVMs would ensure greater transparency a...