Chandigarh mayoral election a murder of democracy: Supreme Court
The recent Chandigarh mayoral election, declared won by BJP candidate Manoj Sonkar, was denounced by the Supreme Court on Monday as a “mockery” and a “murder of democracy.” The court, after scrutinising video footage of the election, accused the returning officer Anil Masih of ballot tampering.
In the January 30 election, Sonkar emerged victorious over the joint AAP-Congress candidate Kuldeep Kumar, with eight votes, was invalidated by the returning officer.
“Is this the way he conducts the elections? This is a mockery of democracy. This is a murder of democracy. This man should be prosecuted,” Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud remarked after seeing the video of the controversial election.
A petition filed by AAP Councillor Kuldeep Kumar, who was the unsuccessful candidate, contesting the Punjab and Haryana High Court’s decision not to suspend the election results, was heard by a bench consisting of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice Manoj Misra.
The Court issued a notice regarding Kumar’s petition and directed that the upcoming meeting of the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation scheduled for February 7 be postponed.
Additionally, the court ordered all records related to the mayoral election be secured and handed over to the registrar-general of the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
