The Supreme Court on Monday (February 5) came down heavily on the Returning Officer of the who held the Chandigarh Mayor elections and said in stringent words that “it is obvious he has defaced the ballot papers”. The top court took a note of the video recording of the elections and termed the Returning Officer’s act as “murder of democracy” stating that the court is “appalled” and the man should be prosecuted. A bench of Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra expressed annoyance after watching the video of the electoral proceedings and said that, prima facie, the returning officer was “defacing” the ballot papers.
“Is this the way he conducts the elections? This is a mockery of democracy. This is a murder of democracy. We are appalled. This man should be prosecuted. Is this the behaviour of Returning Officer? Why is he looking at the camera like a fugitive and defaces the ballot paper?" Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud said.
Supreme Court issues directions
The Supreme Court ordered the preservation of entire record of the election process including ballot papers, videography and other material through Registrar General of Punjab and Haryana High Court.
The top court also directed that the ensuing meeting of the Chandigarh Corporation shall be deferred till the next date of hearing.
AAP moves SC
One of the AAP councillors had moved the top court challenging a Punjab and Haryana High Court order that refused to grant any interim relief to the party seeking fresh mayoral polls in Chandigarh. BJP's Manoj Kumar Sonkar emerged victorious in the Chandigarh Mayoral Election, defeating AAP-Congress Alliance candidate Kuldeep Singh. AAP had alleged foul play on the part of the Returning Officer.
BJP's Manoj Sonkar was elected Mayor of Chandigarh on January 30 after he bagged 16 votes against Congress-AAP joint candidate Kuldeep Singh who secured 12 votes. Eight votes were declared invalid which later turned crucial in deciding the outcome of the polls.
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