But there can be no doubt that something is rotten in the proverbial state of Denmark when the Supreme Court uses such strong language to characterise the ridiculous conduct of the Chandigarh mayoral poll on January 30.
The court declared that the returning officer (RO), who handled the poll, should face legal action because it was evident that he had tampered with the ballots. In order to win the mayorship, the BJP candidate received 16 votes, four more than the AAP-Congress candidate. Surprisingly, eight votes were ruled void. The RO, a designated councillor, has been charged by both the AAP and the Congress with manipulating voting materials to support the BJP.
Source: Hindustan Times
If the court is dissatisfied with the “purity of the poll process,” a new election would be ordered, according to a three-judge Division Bench headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud. In addition to ordering the RO to be present at the upcoming hearing, it has also mandated the preservation of the ballot papers and video footage of the voting process. After the Punjab and Haryana High Court declined to immediately postpone the election results, the losing candidate filed an appeal with the Supreme Court.
Source: The Indian Express
The partisanship of the RO appears to have been exposed by damning evidence. Sending a clear message about the sacredness of the political process requires his punishment. In a democracy, tainting the electoral process and preventing equal opportunity are grave transgressions. The urgent necessity is a new election with a new returning officer. A free and fair competition can serve as a catalyst for course correction brought about by transparency. A nation that will hold elections in a few months cannot afford to allow uncertainties and fears to spread among the populace.
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