Chandigarh Mayor Polls: Returning Officer Apologizes to Supreme Court for False Statement

Anil Masih, the returning officer for the Chandigarh Mayor polls held on January 30, tendered an unconditional apology to the Supreme Court on Friday in response to a show-cause notice issued to him for allegedly making a false statement before the top court.

The Supreme Court had summoned Masih to explain why contempt of court proceedings should not be initiated against him for stating falsely that the ballots were invalid. Representing Masih, senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi informed the three-judge bench, presided by Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud, that Masih had submitted an apology that is entirely unconditional.

Rohatgi further stated that Masih would withdraw his initial affidavit and submit to the magnanimity of the court. Acknowledging this, the bench, comprising Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, scheduled the next hearing for July.

Masih had faced criticism from the Supreme Court on February 19 for allegedly defacing ballot papers during the mayoral elections. In his first affidavit, Masih attributed his actions to incessant criticism and mental trauma caused by political parties following the leak of a purported video recording of the election process. He claimed to have suffered medical issues and consulted the Psychiatry Department of Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education Research, Chandigarh (PGIMER).

Masih’s apology to the Supreme Court signals a step towards resolution in the ongoing legal proceedings regarding the Chandigarh Mayor polls.