SC to call observer for ‘free, honest’ Chandigarh mayor ballot | India Information

New Delhi: Supreme Courtroom on Friday stated it might appoint a retired excessive court docket choose as unbiased observer to make sure “free and fair election” to the mayor’s publish in Chandigarh, studies Dhananjay Mahapatra.The court docket rejected AAP chief and Chandigarh mayor Kuldeep Kumar’s plea for a full one-year time period from Feb 20, 2024, when the SC had declared him elected by quashing the election of BJP’s Manoj Sonkar after detecting malpractices by the returning officer who solid poll papers throughout counting of votes. Whereas ordering that the mayor’s ballot could be held as scheduled on Jan 30, a bench of Justices Surya Kant and N Ok Singh issued discover to the Chandigarh administration on Kumar’s plea for appointment of an unbiased observer to make sure free and honest election. The bench sought the Chandigarh administration’s response by Monday to Kumar’s petition, which claimed that although the municipal company had handed a decision for voting by means of present of arms to keep away from discrepancy or malpractice, the administration acted opposite to the decision and notified voting by means of secret poll. “We will appoint a retired HC judge as independent observer to ensure free and fair election,” the bench stated whereas posting additional listening to on Monday. The SC additionally stated the election course of would proceed unhindered by the pendency of the petition within the SC, which implies candidates can file their nomination papers.