New Delhi: Today the hearing of Chandigarh Mayor election was held in the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court has ordered present the video of mayor election and counting of ballot papers in the Chandigarh Mayor elections by 2 pm on Tuesday.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Chandigarh administration, submitted that judicial officers should be appointed in a fresh mayoral election, but the Supreme Court proposed to declare the Chandigarh mayor election results on the basis of existing votes instead of fresh elections.
The Supreme Court today directed the personal appearance of the presiding officer after finding that he had tampered with the ballot papers.
Supreme Court: CJI asked Anil Masih
CJI: Mr. Masih, I am asking you a question. If you are not giving truthful answers you will be prosecuted. This is a serious matter. We have seen the video. What were you doing looking at the camera while crossing off the ballot papers? why were you marking
Masih: After voting I had to mark the ballot papers. The ballot papers which were mutilated had to be separated.
CJI: It is very clear from the video that you were marking X on some ballot papers. Did you put X marks on certain ballot papers?
Masih: Yes.
CJI: How many ballot papers were marked?
Masih: 8..
CJI: Why were you destroying the ballot paper? Why make the app like this? You want to sign? (Why did you deface the ballot papers? You were only supposed to sign the papers. Where in the rules does it provide that you can put other marks on the ballot papers)
Masih: The ballot papers were defaced, snatched and destroyed by the candidates…
CJI: Solicitor sir, he will have to be prosecuted. He is interfering in the election process.
The CJI said that we will ask the Registrar General of the HC to nominate an officer who will appear before us tomorrow with the ballot papers. We will keep it tomorrow.
It is remembered that before today’s hearing, 3 councilors of the Aam Aadmi Party in Chandigarh had joined the BJP yesterday.
The CJI also said that we will see the ballot papers. Shri Masih will be here tomorrow also. We are extremely concerned about the horse-trading that is taking place.
