Spark News India Igniting Minds Daily
On Monday, the Supreme Court mandated the production of ballot papers and confiscated video footage, currently in the possession of the Registrar General of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, before the apex court on February 20 at 2 pm, in accordance with its previous order.
The bench, comprising Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, instructed that adequate security measures be implemented to ensure the secure transportation, preservation, and custody of the ballot papers, involving judicial officers.
Expressing apprehension regarding “horse trading,” the bench criticized Anil Masih, the Returning Officer for the Chandigarh Municipal polls, asserting that he should face prosecution for “defacing ballot papers.”
The bench voiced its deep concern about the ongoing “horse-trading” during the proceedings.
The Supreme Court addressed a petition filed by AAP’s councillor Kuldeep Dhalor after the BJP emerged victorious in the mayoral election, a result that followed the Returning Officer’s decision to invalidate eight opposition votes.
AAP’s councillor Dhalor lost the mayoral election to BJP’s Manoj Sonkar on January 30.
In a recent development, Sonkar resigned from his post late on February 18, just before the Supreme Court resumed its hearing.
During today’s hearing, the bench questioned Masih about the marks (ticks and x marks) he made on the ballot papers he was assigned to count.
“This is a very serious matter. Anything you say… if found false, you will be prosecuted… Why were you looking into the camera and putting marks on the ballot papers?” inquired CJI Chandrachud.
