JJP moves High Court against Net facility near strongrooms

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 23

The JJP on Wednesday approached the Punjab and Haryana High Court for issuance of directions to the authorities concerned to suspend internet services in areas around strongrooms and counting stations till the declaration of results.

Counsel Naresh Singh Shekhawat and R Kartikeya made a mention before the Division Bench of Chief Justice Ravi Shanker Jha and first puisne Justice Rajiv Sharma. They eventually decided to submit a representation to the Chief Election Commissioner and Haryana Chief Electoral Officer.

The petitioner was seeking directions to install additional jammers to prevent intrusion in any form “in the light of recent incidents of EVM tampering reported in the print, electronic and social media”.

“The applicant is, inter alia, aggrieved by the recent events with respect to EVM tampering. The applicant is seeking appropriate directions to the authorities for suspending internet services in areas around strongrooms and counting stations till the final declaration of results,” read the petition.

The party, in the representation to the Election Commission of India and Haryana Chief Electoral Officer, alleged that Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar had, during an election event, stated that EVM now meant “every vote for Manohar”.

“A candidate representing the ruling regime openly claimed that no matter which button is pressed on the electronic voting machine, the vote will go to the BJP,” read the JJP representation.