The Supreme Court announced on Monday its intention to thoroughly review the ballot papers from the Chandigarh mayoral polls and scrutinize the complete video footage of the counting process on Tuesday, citing serious concerns regarding potential horse-trading activities.
Scheduled for consideration was the explanation of Returning Officer Anil Masih, who stands accused of tampering with the ballots during the Chandigarh mayoral polls.
Allegations from Kuldeep Kumar, the mayoral candidate representing the INDIA bloc, pointed fingers at the Presiding Officer for allegedly engaging in fraudulent activities and forgery during the counting process.
To ensure the safe transportation of records to Delhi, the Supreme Court directed the Registrar General of the Punjab and Haryana High Court to assign a Judicial Officer for the task.
Chief Justice of India, DY Chandrachud, emphasized the urgency of addressing the matter and dismissed a plea to delay the hearing, citing the gravity of ongoing concerns related to horse-trading.
Masih, presenting himself before the Bench, confessed to marking eight defaced ballot papers with an "X" and accused AAP Councillors of causing disruptions during the process.
He explained that he had to rely on CCTV monitoring due to disturbances caused by AAP Councillors.
The Supreme Court had summoned Masih to appear before it on Monday to clarify his actions.
"During the hearing, the court reviewed the video evidence. The Returning Officer will be required to attend the next scheduled court session to account for his actions as depicted in the video," the Supreme Court stated in an order issued on February 5.
Upon reviewing CCTV footage provided on a pen drive by senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, who represented the AAP Councillor, CJI Chandrachud expressed dismay: "This undermines democracy. It's a blatant disregard for democracy. Is this how a Returning Officer behaves, defacing the ballots while being recorded? It's evident that the ballots were tampered with. This individual must face legal consequences."
The Supreme Court postponed the February 7 Corporation meeting and ordered the sequestration of all records related to the election, including ballot papers and video footage, under the custody of the Registrar General of the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
"At this juncture, it is apparent that an appropriate interim order was necessary, which the High Court failed to issue, to safeguard the integrity and sanctity of the electoral process," the Supreme Court asserted.
Following the Punjab and Haryana High Court's refusal to halt the election results held on January 30 for the Mayor's post, Kuldeep Kumar, the joint candidate of AAP and Congress, petitioned the Supreme Court.
In his plea to the High Court, Kumar alleged a complete departure from established practices and rules, claiming that the Presiding Officer denied party nominees the opportunity to oversee the vote counting process. He sought fresh elections conducted in a transparent manner under the supervision of a retired High Court judge.
Read also | Political Instability in Pakistan Casts Doubt on IMF Agreement: Fitch's Concerns
Read also | Bihar Forecasts Fiscal Surplus for 2024-2025
