A bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud with Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra took strong exception to the Returning Officer defacing ballot papers and making a mockery of democracy
“It is obvious that he has defaced the ballot papers, he needs to be prosecuted. Why is he looking at the camera. Mr Solicitor, this is a mockery of democracy and murdering democracy. We are appalled. Is this behaviour of a returning officer. Wherever there is cross at bottom, he does not touch it and when it is at the top he alters it, please tell returning officer that Supreme Court is watching him,” CJI remarked.
The Court then proceeded to issue notice to Returning Officer Anil Masih and also directed that entire records of the municipal elections be sequestered with the High Court Registrar general.
Let the ballots and videography too be preserved, the Court added.
The Court also effectively stayed any activity on the part of the Municipal Corporation for the time being.
“The ensuing meeting of Chandigarh Municipal Corporation shall be deferred till the next date. Let the papers be handed over to the High Court registrar general by today 5 pm. List on the next Monday week,” the Court ordered.
Source: Barandbench
