• By Vivek Raj
  • Tue, 06 Feb 2024 07:38 AM (IST)
  • Source:JND
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The Supreme Court on Monday came down heavily on the presiding officer and condemned the cancellation of votes in the Chandigarh mayoral elections, calling it a ‘murder of democracy’. Hours later, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) released a fresh video showing the presiding officer allegedly tampering with ballot papers before deeming them invalid. The AAP labeled the video as evidence of BJP's dictatorship.

"Now accept it, BJP. What can be a greater proof than this? See how the Presiding Officer of the BJP openly destroyed the flag of democracy by cancelling the votes himself. This is living proof of BJP's dictatorship," AAP Punjab posted on X.

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In the contentious Chandigarh mayoral elections, despite the Congress-AAP alliance holding a numerical advantage in the municipal council, the BJP candidate emerged victorious after the presiding officer, Anil Masih, invalidated eight votes.

The AAP promptly filed a petition in the Supreme Court challenging the presiding officer's decision.

During Monday's court session, Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud rebuked the returning officer for defacing the ballot papers, denouncing the act as a mockery of democracy and a murder of democratic principles.

"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 the Returning Officer?" Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud said.

Expressing dismay at the conduct of the returning officer, the court directed authorities to preserve the entire election record, including ballot papers and videography, through the Registrar General of Punjab and Haryana High Court.

In response to AAP candidate Kuldeep Dhalor's plea, the court insisted on prosecuting the presiding officer and expressed shock at his behavior, summoning him to appear in court on February 19.

"The only stabilising thing in a democracy is the purity of our election process. And what is happening here? We will not allow democracy to be murdered," said CJI Chandrachud, as the bench issued a notice directing the returning officer Anil Masih to be personally present in court on February 19.

CJI Chandrachud highlighted the sanctity of the electoral process in maintaining democracy and vowed to prevent its subversion.

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Earlier, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann staged a protest against the BJP on February 2, decrying the Chandigarh election as emblematic of electoral malpractice.