Explain non-compliance of videography order in panchayat polls: High Court asks Patiala DC

Taking note of the non-compliance of its orders on videography during the recently concluded panchayat elections, the Punjab and Haryana has asked the Patiala deputy commissioner to “explain the circumstances”.

Justice Harkesh Manuja of the high court also ordered Punjab State Election Commissioner Raj Kumar Chaudhary to be impleaded as party-respondent to the petition while hearing a plea.

The developments took place during the hearing of a petition filed by Komalpreet Kaur against IAS officer and Patiala Deputy Commissioner Dr Preeti Yadav and another respondent.

As the matter came up for hearing, a compliance report by way of an affidavit by Yadav was placed before Justice Manuja’s Bench. Among other things, it specifically said that videography of two booths in Dakala village in Patiala district was carried out. A pen drive was also appended along with the report.

Justice Manuja, in his order, asserted that Haryana Deputy Advocate-General Shivendra Swaroop, asked by the court to go through the pen drive, informed the Bench that it did not contain the recording in continuity from 9 am to 5 pm and the recording consists of more than 250 small clips with no continuity in terms of time or visuals.

“In such circumstances, apparently it seems that the order has not been complied with, as such before proceeding further, let Deputy Commissioner, Patiala, joint proceedings…,” the Bench asserted. The case will now come up for further hearing on December 5.