Arvind Kejriwal Thanks Supreme Court for Safeguarding Democracy in Chandigarh Mayoral Election
The verdict followed a plea by AAP candidate Kuldeep Kumar, who accused the Returning Officer of electoral irregularities.
The Supreme Court of India has delivered a significant verdict, declaring Kuldeep Kumar of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) as the winner of the Chandigarh mayoral election. This ruling overturns the declaration made by Returning Officer Anil Masih on January 30, who had announced BJP candidate Manoj Kumar Sonkar as the Mayor.
In response to the Supreme Court's decision, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal expressed gratitude, emphasizing the court's role in preserving democracy during challenging times.
The court's judgment was based on its findings that the Returning Officer had deliberately defaced eight ballots cast in favor of Kuldeep Kumar, rendering them invalid. However, upon physical examination of the ballot papers, the court determined that they were not defaced. Consequently, Kuldeep Kumar was declared the winner with 20 votes, including the 12 votes he initially received and the eight ballots erroneously marked by Masih.
Furthermore, the Supreme Court directed additional action against Anil Masih, ordering perjury proceedings under Section 340 CrPC for providing false statements regarding the defacement of the ballots. Masih faced criticism from the bench for unlawfully altering the outcome of the mayoral election.
The court also instructed the Registrar Judicial to issue a notice to Masih for perjury proceedings and condemned his actions for unlawfully influencing the mayoral election.
The Congress party welcomed the Supreme Court's decision, highlighting its significance in safeguarding Indian democracy. Congress General Secretary K C Venugopal characterized the election process as a sham, which the court's verdict had brought to light.
Moreover, the court called for the prosecution of Anil Masih for misconduct, underscoring the severity of the electoral malpractices.
The verdict followed a plea by AAP candidate Kuldeep Kumar, who accused the Returning Officer of electoral irregularities. The Supreme Court meticulously examined the ballot papers and reviewed video recordings submitted by a judicial officer appointed by the Punjab and Haryana High Court's registrar general.
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The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) initially emerged victorious in the mayoral poll, with Manoj Sonkar declared the winner. However, subsequent developments, including Sonkar's resignation and defections from the AAP to the BJP, raised questions about the integrity of the election process.
Overall, the Supreme Court's intervention in the Chandigarh mayoral election underscores its commitment to upholding the principles of democracy and ensuring fair electoral practices.
