• By Aditya Jha
  • Mon, 27 Jan 2025 02:58 PM (IST)
  • Source:JND

Chandigarh Mayor Election: The Supreme Court on Monday stated that an independent observer will be named for a fair Chandigarh mayor polls on January 30. The court also stated that the electoral process would be conducted in the presence of the observer and it will be videographed.

Kuldeep Kumar, the Chandigarh Mayor, earlier moved to the apex court seeking orders to Chandigarh administration to hold the election in a fair manner. The Mayor requested the court to conduct the election by ‘show of hands’ instead of ‘secret ballot’ to ensure the wrong practices do not take place during the polls.

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While hearing the plea, a bench comprising of Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh stated that they would seek a response from the administration too. Appearing for the mayor, Punjab Advocate General Gurminder Singh stated that everyone know what happened during the mayor polls last time. He further urged the apex court to issue a notice on voting by "show of hands".

"We all know what happened during last elections when it was a secret ballot and CCTV video recording,” Singh stated, referring to the last year Chandigarh mayor polls. The bench further asked Punjab government counsel to suggest a name for the poll observer and also directed the Chandigarh administration to submit its response on the matter.

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Singh told the court that the presiding officer defaced ballot papers in the last mayor polls. He further said that House passed a resolution for a "show of hand", but they were now informed by the administration that it would be conducted by "secret ballot". The bench stated that the court would ensure that fair election will be conducted.

The Supreme Court on February 20, 2024, declared AAP-Congress alliance candidate Kuldeep Kumar the UT's mayor by overturning the poll results in which the BJP nominee emerged as victorious. The court also ordered an action against the former returning officer Anil Masih for “serious misdemeanour”.