PUNJAB AND HARYANA HIGH COURT: BARRED ASSOCIATION ELECTION RESULTS CHALLENGED

The Punjab & Haryana High Court in the case Chouhan Satvinder Singh Sisodia v. Bar Council of Punjab and Haryana and Chandigarh and Others observed wherein Advocate Chouhan Satvinder Singh Sisodia, one of the candidates who contested for the post of President of the Punjab and Haryana High Court Bar Association in the election held last month, has moved the high court challenging the results of the elections with regards to the procedure followed for holding the polls. The present matter was listed before the division bench comprising of Justice Augustine George Masih and Justice Vikram Aggarwal on Monday However, the Sisodia has urged the High Court, wherein setting aside the election for all the posts of the office bearers as well as executive members of the Bar Association. Last year, on December 16 the elections were held and the results were being announced on December 18. It has been stated by Sisodia that the said ID cards were not checked on the day of the election and that the entire procedure was conducted in an ‘abrupt manner.’ However, once the counting began, the ballots which were in the hands of a few people who were maliciously opening and making the bundles of the ballot papers. Thus, it has been submitted by the petitioner that despite repeated requests, the counting of votes was not done by viewing it on a projector. Further, in the plea it is stated that due to grievances, many candidates did not sign the sheet of the result and signatures have still not been obtained. The petition alleges that in connection with the election for the post of the Vice President, the petition states that upon first counting, a candidate who was declared winner by one vote, lost by 64 votes in the second counting, the same showed “inconsistencies” in the counting process. There being also discrepancy in the number of total votes cast. In the plea, it has been stated by Sisodia that the election conducted by the Election committee be cancelled, fresh election be conducted by constituting fresh election committee. Therefore, we need to form an Ad-hoc committee, till the time free election are need to be conducted. Thus, the Election Committee who got the illegal election conducted be burdened with cost for the fresh election.