The Supreme Court on Friday deliberated on the appointment of an observer for the upcoming Chandigarh mayoral elections to ensure they are conducted freely and fairly. The decision is set for the polls scheduled on January 30, 2025, amidst concerns about the transparency of the election process.
The plea, initiated by current Chandigarh mayor Kuldeep Kumar of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), calls for a “show of hands” voting method rather than the traditional “secret ballot.” This request aims to enhance the transparency and integrity of the electoral process. Justice Surya Kant and Justice N Kotiswar Singh, presiding over the case, indicated that a retired high court judge might be appointed as the observer.
During the court proceedings, Punjab’s Advocate General Gurminder Singh, representing Mayor Kumar, highlighted past issues with secret ballot elections, including incidents during the last election where CCTV footage raised questions about the voting process. He also referenced a previous mayoral election where ballot papers were reportedly defaced by the presiding officer, leading to significant disputes over the election results.
The Supreme Court has scheduled a hearing for January 27 to further discuss the matter. Justice Surya Kant reassured that the court is committed to ensuring a free and fair election, reflecting on last year’s controversial election results that were later overturned by the Supreme Court. On February 20, 2024, the court had reinstated Mayor Kumar after declaring the previous election results, favoring a BJP nominee, invalid due to procedural misconduct.
The court has asked Advocate General Singh to propose a candidate for the role of election observer and has requested a response from the Chandigarh administration regarding this appointment.
