The Supreme Court, on Monday, February 19, declared that Anil Masih, the returning officer in the Chandigarh Mayor election, must face prosecution for his interference with the election process. This development follows closely on the heels of newly elected Chandigarh Mayor Manoj Sonkar’s resignation on February 18, amidst swirling allegations of rigging in the January 30 mayoral polls.
Mayor’s Resignation Amid Rigging Allegations
Manoj Sonkar, who had triumphed in the Chandigarh mayoral polls representing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), tendered his resignation, citing concerns over the integrity of the electoral process. The BJP’s victory in the mayoral elections dealt a blow to the Congress-Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) alliance, which had accused the presiding officer of tampering with ballot papers.
Supreme Court’s Stern Rebuke
Earlier this month, the apex court had reprimanded the returning officer responsible for conducting the mayoral polls, condemning his actions as a blatant defacement of ballot papers. The court asserted that the officer’s behavior amounted to a “murder and mockery” of democracy. Additionally, the Supreme Court issued directives for the preservation of ballots and the video footage of the poll proceedings, further underscoring the gravity of the situation.
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