The Supreme Court on Monday (January 27, 2025) appointed former Punjab and Haryana High Court judge, Justice Jaishree Thakur, as independent observer in the Chandigarh Mayoral elections scheduled for January 30.
A Bench headed by Justice Surya Kant directed the election proceedings to be videographed.
The order was passed in a special leave petition filed by Chandigarh Mayor and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Kuldeep Kumar, seeking the conduct of election by a ‘show of hands’ rather than a secret ballot.
However, the apex court noted that it had issued notice in the petition to the limited extent of considering the appointment of an independent observer “to ensure that the election is conducted in a fair and free manner on the scheduled date”.
Mr. Kumar had earlier approached the Punjab and Haryana High Court to defer the election till February 20 on the premise that he would complete his actual tenure only by then.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Municipal Corporation, had no objection to the appointment of an independent observer.
“The election proceedings shall be conducted in the physical presence of the observer. The election proceedings will be duly videographed,” the court ordered.
Mr. Kumar had argued how the previous mayoral election had been sabotaged by the Returning Officer. The latter had selectively defaced the ballot papers to manage a win for the rival BJP candidate. However, the official’s act was caught on camera. The apex court had intervened to overturn the results and declare Mr. Kumar the winner.
Published - January 27, 2025 03:11 pm IST
