Chandigarh Mayor to assume office today, polling for 2 posts on March 4

Tribune News Service

Saurabh Malik

Chandigarh, February 27

Controversy over the election of Senior Deputy Mayor and Deputy Mayor today trudged towards a solution with the UT Deputy Commissioner issuing a fresh notice directing, among other things, the holding of a meeting for the purpose on March 4.

Poll process to be videographed

• The entire election process would be videographed by the authorities
• Councillors prohibited from being accompanied by supporters or security personnel from other states
• Chandigarh Police directed to provide adequate security to councillors attending the voting process

Taking note of the notice and the related developments, a Division Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court disposed of the matter this afternoon with a slew of directions, including video recording of the entire election process.

Appearing before the Bench of Justice Sudhir Singh and Justice Harsh Bunger, the counsel for UT Chandigarh and the Municipal Corporation “fairly” stated that the entire election process, starting from calling fresh nominations for the two posts, would be carried out by the virtue of a fresh notification/notice issued in accordance with law. This was to obviate apprehensions of the councillors/candidates, to maintain the purity of elections, and the trust in representative democracy.

It was, at the same time, stated the newly elected Mayor was to preside over the elections. As such, appropriate direction was required to be issued to him to assume charge of his office within 24 hours so that the further proceedings for holding the elections could be carried out in compliance with the Supreme Court directions.

The Bench observed that the senior counsel appearing for the petitioners and the newly elected Mayor did not raise any objection to the course of action and undertook that he would assume charge by 10 am on February 28.

The counsel appearing for the UT Deputy Commissioner then placed before the Bench the fresh notice, mentioning that the meeting would be held at 10 am in Chandigarh Municipal Corporation’s assembly hall on March 4 with Mayor Kuldeep Kumar as the presiding authority. The elected councillors were also called upon to file nominations for the election to the two posts and deliver the same from February 28 to February 29.

Before parting with the order, the Bench directed that the newly elected Mayor would assume office by 10 am on February 28 at the Municipal Corporation Office in Chandigarh. He was instructed to ensure his association with the conduct of the upcoming elections.

The Bench also made it clear that the elections would proceed in accordance with the notice issued today. The entire election process would be videographed by the authorities. The councillors attending the elections were prohibited from being accompanied by supporters or security personnel from other states.

The Chandigarh Police was also directed to provide adequate security to the councillors attending the voting process, considering they would not have security personnel from other states accompanying them.

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