38.6c New Delhi, India, Friday, October 03, 2025
Top Stories Supreme Court
Political NEWS Legislative Corner Celebstreet International Videos
Subscribe Contact Us
close
Judiciary

'We are appalled, it is murder of democracy,' SC on Chandigarh mayor election [Read Order]

By Jhanak Sharma      06 February, 2024 11:26 AM      0 Comments
We are appalled it is murder of democracy SC on Chandigarh mayor election

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday said it was appalled at the recent Chandigarh mayoral election, won by BJPs Manoj Kumar Sonkar after cancellation of eight votes out of 20 votes secured by AAP-Congress joint candidate, saying it was obvious that the returning officer defaced the ballot papers in "murder" and "mockery" of democracy.

The court directed for preserving the original records in the matter.

In damning observations, a bench of Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud and Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra said the way the returning officer conducted the proceedings, he needs to be prosecuted.

Aam Aadmi Party councillor Kuldeep Kumar challenged the Punjab and Haryana High Court order, which refused to grant stay on election result in which a BJP candidate was declared elected as mayor of Chandigarh Municipal Corporation.

Senior advocate Maninder Singh and Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, for respondents requested the court to examine the complete video of the incident.

Senior advocate A M Singhvi for the petitioner referred to the video of the polling day.

After examining the video, the bench asked, Why he (Returning Officer) is looking at the camera, this is a mockery of democracy. The returning officer is murdering democracy, we are appalled.

"Is this the behaviour of the returning officer, and wherever there is a cross at the bottom he does not touch it and it is at the top, he alters it...Please tell the returning officer that the Supreme Court is watching him, the bench said.

The bench said the court will not allow democracy to be murdered this way.

The court ordered that the entire record of election process including ballot papers, videography and other material should be furnished to registrar general of Punjab and Haryana High Court. It also ordered for deferment of the sitting of the civic body.

The High Court had last week only issued notice and listed the matter for hearing after three weeks.

BJPs Sonkar was elected as the mayor on Tuesday after he bagged 16 votes as against the 12 votes received by the Congress-AAP candidate Kumar. Eight votes were rejected in the process as invalid.

 

[Read Order]



Share this article:

About:

Jhanak is a lawyer by profession and legal journalist by passion. She graduated at the top of her cl...Read more

Follow:
FacebookTwitterLinkedinInstagram


Leave a feedback about this
Related Posts
View All

Another CBI Officer Investigating Rakesh Asthana Moves SC Against Transfer, Makes Startling Revelations Another CBI Officer Investigating Rakesh Asthana Moves SC Against Transfer, Makes Startling Revelations

After A.K. Bassi, another CBI officer who was investigating corruption allegations against Special Director Rakesh Asthana moved the Supreme Court.

Ayodhya verdict: SC rules in favour of Ram Lalla, Sunni Waqf Board gets alternate land Ayodhya verdict: SC rules in favour of Ram Lalla, Sunni Waqf Board gets alternate land

SC bench led by CJI Ranjan Gogoi has allotted the dispute site to Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas, while directing the government to allot an alternate 5 acre land within Ayodhya to Sunni Waqf Board to build a mosque.

Supreme Court: Money Spent On Judiciary Less Than 1% In All States Except Delhi Supreme Court: Money Spent On Judiciary Less Than 1% In All States Except Delhi

The court guided all states to document their response to the commission's report within four weeks. If any of the states fail to file a response, it will be presumed that they have no objections to the recommendations made by the commission, the court said.

Supreme Court Top Panel Names Chief Justices for Bombay, Orissa and Meghalaya High Courts Supreme Court Top Panel Names Chief Justices for Bombay, Orissa and Meghalaya High Courts

On April 18, 2020, the Supreme Court Collegium recommended new Chief Justices for three High Courts. Justice Dipankar Datta was proposed as Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court, succeeding Justice B.P. Dharmadhikari. Justice Biswanath Somadder was nominated as Chief Justice of Meghalaya High Court, while Justice Mohammad Rafiq was recommended for transfer as Chief Justice of Orissa High Court.

TRENDING NEWS


TOP STORIES

sc-allows-manufacturing-of-green-crackers-in-delhi-subject-to-no-sale
Trending Judiciary
SC allows manufacturing of green crackers in Delhi, subject to no sale

SC allows certified manufacturers to produce green crackers in Delhi, but bans their sale in NCR till further orders, balancing pollution and livelihoods.

27 September, 2025 01:23 AM
kerala-hc-directs-comprehensive-snakebite-prevention-guidelines-for-schools
Trending Judiciary
Kerala HC Directs Comprehensive Snakebite Prevention Guidelines For Schools [Read Order]

Kerala High Court directs comprehensive snakebite prevention and management guidelines for schools, ensuring safety, awareness, and emergency response.

30 September, 2025 08:46 PM
sc-orders-two-judicial-officers-to-go-for-seven-days-training-for-flawed-bail-order
Trending Judiciary
SC orders two judicial officers to go for seven days training for flawed bail order [Read Judgment]

Supreme Court quashes flawed bail order, directs two Delhi judges to undergo 7-day special training on judicial conduct and bail rulings.

30 September, 2025 09:58 PM
sc-seeks-reply-from-iit-delhi-kharagpur-on-plea-to-transfer-student-due-to-mental-health-condition
Trending Judiciary
SC seeks reply from IIT Delhi, Kharagpur on plea to transfer student due to mental health condition [Read Order]

SC seeks reply from IIT Delhi & Kharagpur on plea for transfer of B Arch student citing mental health needs, AIIMS proximity & Article 21 rights.

30 September, 2025 11:22 PM

ADVERTISEMENT


Join Group

Signup for Our Newsletter

Get Exclusive access to members only content by email