On February 20, the Supreme Court announced its intention to order a recount of votes in the contentious Chandigarh mayoral election, with a focus on considering the validity of eight “defaced” ballots that were previously deemed invalid by the Returning Officer. The decision comes in response to a plea filed by Kuldeep Kumar, the defeated AAP candidate, who has accused Returning Officer Anil Masih of electoral malpractices.
A Bench, comprising Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud and Justices J.B. Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, has initiated hearings on the matter. The Supreme Court is meticulously examining the ballot papers and reviewing video recordings brought before it by a judicial officer appointed by the Registrar General of the Punjab & Haryana High Court.
Chief Justice Chandrachud, expressing the court’s intent, stated, “We would like to see ballots which were invalidated” at the beginning of the hearing. The proceedings aim to address the concerns raised by the AAP candidate regarding the alleged malpractices during the election.
In a session held on February 19, the Supreme Court had expressed deep concern over potential “horse-trading” and announced its plan to scrutinize the ballot papers and video recordings from the counting process. Instead of opting for a fresh round of polls, the court indicated a possibility of declaring results based on the votes already cast.
As the hearing unfolds, the Supreme Court remains focused on ensuring a fair and transparent resolution to the issues surrounding the Chandigarh mayoral election, with a thorough examination of the contested ballots and consideration of potential remedies.
