Chandigarh Mayor Polls: SC shocked over behaviour of RO
The Supreme Court of India Monday February 05, 2024 expressed its shock over the way Chandigarh Mayor Poll was held and ended the day’s hearing with scathing remarks against Anil Masih, a BJP nominated member who was the Returning Officer (RO). Read More
New Delhi: The Supreme Court of India Monday February 05, 2024 expressed its shock over the way Chandigarh Mayor Poll was held and ended the day’s hearing with scathing remarks against Anil Masih, a BJP nominated member who was the Returning Officer (RO).
In a rare oral observation, the Supreme Court commenting on the way Chandigarh Mayor Election called it “murder of democracy” and “mockery of democracy”.
The Supreme Court of India was hearing a petition by AAP member Kuldeep Kumar Singh challenging the Chandigarh Mayor Election held on January 30, 2024.
Kuldeep Singh in his petition alleged that the Mayoral election was marred by manipulation.
He said Presiding Officer Anil Masih by his own hand tampered the ballots and later ruled 08 votes of AAP and Congress members invalid.
The Chandigarh Mayor Election was in favour of Congress-AAP joinded candidate Kuldeep Singh. Kuldeep bagged a total of 20 votes as against the BJP’s Manoj Sonkar who got 16 votes.
Masih however ruled 08 votes of the Congress and AAP members invalid and declared Manoj Sonkar New Mayor of Chandigarh with 16/12 votes in the BJP candidate’s favour.
Abhishek Manu Singhvi representing the AAP candidate requested the SC bench headed by the Chief Justice of India (CJI) to watch a video.
"Is this the behaviour of a returning officer? He looks at the camera, and defaces the ballot obviously”, the CJI said as reported by Live Law.
“Where there is a cross at the bottom (of the ballot paper), he puts it into the tray. The moment there is a cross at the top, the man defaces the ballot and looks at the camera”, the CJI said.
“Tell him that the Supreme Court is watching him. We will not allow democracy to be murdered like this. The great stabilising force in the country is the purity of the election process," the CJI said.
The Supreme Court ordered that the entire record of the Mayor election should be sequestered and be kept with the Punjab & Haryana High Court Registrar General.
The SC also asked the Chandigarh Civic Body to preserve the ballots and videography of the election process.
"The Deputy Commissioner of Chandigarh UT, who has possession of the records at present, should hand over them to the HC Registrar General by today 5 PM", the SC bench said.
The SC also asked Masih to be present in the Supreme Court on the next hearing on Feb 19 and explain his conduct.
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