Conduct Chandigarh Mayoral Election On January 30, Ensure No Ruckus Takes Place: Punjab & Haryana High Court To Chandigarh Admin

The Punjab & Haryana High Court today directed the Chandigarh Administration to conduct election for the post of Mayor, Senior Deputy Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Chandigarh Municipal Corporation on January 30, with directions to Chandigarh police to ensure that "no ruckus takes place in or around the Municipal Corporation Office prior to or during or after the election process."

The Mayoral election which was scheduled on January 18, was postponed citing "law and order" issues. AAP councillor had challenged the deferment.

After considering the submissions a division bench of Justice Sudhir Singh and Justice Harsh Bunger directed the administration to conduct the elections on 30th January and asked Chandigarh Police to ensure that "no ruckus takes place."

It also directed the councillors that they shall not be accompanied by any supporters or by the security personal belonging to any other state.

AAP councillor, Kuldeep Kumar had moved the High Court challenging the order rescheduling of the Mayoral election "illegally" and seeking directions to conduct fair and transparent elections to the post of Mayor, Senior Deputy Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Chandigarh Municipal Corporation immediately within 24 hours.

It was submitted that if the impugned order is not quashed and the elections are not scheduled and held immediately then the whole election process will be jeopardized and there will be horse trading, intimidating of councillors against the settled principle of free and fair elections.

Reference was also made to an earlier plea filed by the petitioner, wherein the UT Administration and Police Authorities had undertaken before the Court to conduct fair and transparent elections on the scheduled day i.e January 18.

A detailed order is awaited.

Case Title: KULDEEP KUMAR VS U.T. CHANDIGARH AND OTHERS

 Sr. Advocate Gurminder Singh with Advocates Gaurav Garg Dhuriwala, R.P.S. Bara, K.S. Kharbanda, Ferry Sofat, Karanbir Singh, Manish Kumar Kansal, Gurbhej Singh for the petitioner.

Anil Mehta, Sr. Standing Counsel, U.T. Chandigarh assisted by Advoactes Sanjiv Ghai, Sumeet Jain, Himanshu Arora, Pradeep Sharma, and Nishant Indal for respondents No. 1 & 2.

Chetan Mittal, Sr. Advocate assisted by Advocates Kunal Mulwani, Daksh Uppal for respondents No. 3 & 4.

Manish Bansal, Public Prosecutor, U.T. Chandigarh assisted Navjit Singh, Advocate for respondents No.5 & 6.