AAP and Congress fought the Chandigarh Municipal polls together and alleged that the returning officer illegally declared their 8 votes as invalid and announced BJP candidate Manoj Sonkar as the winner of the election. Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal called it “cheating in broad daylight” and slammed the BJP for stooping so low in a mayoral election.

Chandigarh Municipal polls result hearing: What CJI Chandrachud said

1. While noting that the returning officer was looking at the CCTV camera, CJI Chandrachud said, “It is obvious that he has defaced the ballot papers. He needs to be prosecuted. Why is he looking at the camera?”

2. CJI Chandrachud referred to the Solicitor General of India and questioned the behavior of the returning officer. “Mr Solicitor, this is a mockery of democracy and murdering democracy. We are appalled. Is this behaviour of a returning officer?” Bar and Bench quoted CJI Chandrachud as saying.

3. “Wherever there is a cross at bottom, he does not touch it but when it is at the top, he alters it. Please tell the returning officer that Supreme Court is watching him,” the top judge said.

4. The apex court also directed that the entire records of the Chandigarh Municipal polls must be handed over to the registrar of Punjab and Haryana High Court. “Let the ballots and videography too be preserved,” the CJI said.

5. The court also deferred the upcoming meeting of the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation. “The ensuing meeting of Chandigarh Municipal Corporation on February 7 shall be deferred till the next date. Let the papers be handed over to the High Court Registrar General by today 5 PM. List on the next Monday week,” the CJI-led bench ordered

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Published: 05 Feb 2024, 05:51 PM IST