Chandigarh Mayor Election Controversy: Supreme Court Overturns Results, Declares AAP Candidate Winner!
A three-judge bench, led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and including Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, physically inspected the ballot papers. They concluded that the eight ballots, invalidated by Returning Officer Anil Masih, were indeed valid and cast in favor of AAP's candidate.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) scored a significant victory as the Supreme Court overturned the results of the Chandigarh mayoral elections, citing irregularities in the voting process. The decision came after the Returning Officer invalidated eight ballot votes, leading to the victory of the BJP candidate.
In a ruling that favored AAP's mayoral candidate Kuldeep Kumar, who also served as the petitioner in the case, the Supreme Court declared him the rightful winner of the election. A three-judge bench, led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and including Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, physically inspected the ballot papers. They concluded that the eight ballots, invalidated by Returning Officer Anil Masih, were indeed valid and cast in favor of AAP's candidate.
The bench criticized Masih's actions, noting a "deliberate effort to deface eight ballots" cast for the petitioner. Despite Masih's claims of defacement, the court found no evidence of such tampering. This misconduct was deemed a violation of democratic principles, as Masih unlawfully altered the election's outcome and made false statements before the court.
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In response, the bench initiated criminal proceedings against Masih under Section 340 of the CrPC for making false statements. This decision underscored the court's commitment to upholding the integrity of democratic processes and holding accountable those who undermine them.
Earlier, the Supreme Court had ordered the production of the ballot papers and video footage of the vote counting process in the Chandigarh mayoral polls. This move came after the BJP's sweeping victory on January 30, where they retained all three posts, defeating the Congress-AAP alliance. AAP's subsequent petition alleged fraud and forgery by Returning Officer Anil Masih, prompting the demand for fresh polls.
The integrity of the election process was further questioned when a viral video depicted Masih ticking the ballot papers while glancing at the CCTV, raising concerns about fairness and transparency.
During the hearing, the Supreme Court condemned the apparent "horse-trading business" in the mayoral polls and emphasized the need for accountability. Masih, if found guilty of the accusations against him, would face prosecution for his actions.
Overall, the Supreme Court's decision to overturn the Chandigarh mayoral election results signifies a victory for democracy and underscores the importance of conducting free and fair elections. It also serves as a reminder that electoral officials must adhere to the highest standards of integrity and impartiality in their duties.
