In a move aimed at ensuring fairness and transparency, the Supreme Court announced on Monday that it will appoint an independent observer for the upcoming mayoral election in Chandigarh, scheduled for January 30. The decision was made by a bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh, who have yet to reveal the name of the observer.
The court has mandated that the entire electoral process be conducted under the supervision of this independent observer and that the proceedings be fully videographed. The Chandigarh administration has been directed to provide an honorarium for the observer’s services.
The suggestion to appoint a retired high court judge as the independent observer came from Punjab’s Advocate General Gurminder Singh, representing the current mayor, Kuldeep Kumar. Meanwhile, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Chandigarh administration, agreed to the appointment but expressed concerns about setting a precedent that might lead other municipal corporations to seek similar supervision from the Supreme Court.
The bench emphasized its focus on the integrity of the election process, stating, “We are only concerned with the fairness and transparency of the process.” This statement came as the bench recorded submissions without making a decision on the observer’s identity, which will be disclosed at a later date.
Additionally, the bench addressed a plea from Mayor Kuldeep Kumar of the Aam Aadmi Party, who requested a “show of hands” voting method rather than a “secret ballot” to enhance transparency. However, the Supreme Court decided not to alter the existing procedures and upheld the high court’s stance on the voting method.
