Chandigarh mayoral elections: HC rejects 18-day delay, seeks swift response by Jan 23

Chandigarh, January 20: The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Saturday firmly stated that a delay of 18 days in the mayoral elections is not acceptable, directing the administration to provide a swift response ahead of the scheduled hearing on January 23 regarding the polling in Chandigarh.

In a recent hearing, the Punjab and Haryana High Court made it clear that any delay of 18 days in the electoral process could not be sanctioned. The court has mandated that the administration promptly address the mayoral election-related concerns during the upcoming hearing on January 23.

Emphasising the urgency of the situation, the Punjab and Haryana High Court asserted that the Chandigarh mayoral elections must be conducted before January 26 to avoid potential intervention by the HC. Notices have been issued to various entities, including the Chandigarh Administration and the Municipal Corporation, as part of the ongoing legal proceedings.

During the hearing, the court, while presenting legal arguments, rebuked the Chandigarh Administration for the delay in conducting the elections, underscoring that such justifications are unacceptable.

The mayoral elections in Chandigarh faced a postponement due to the unexpected illness of the presiding officer shortly before the scheduled voting. Responding to this development, mayoral candidate Kuldeep Kumar filed a petition in the Punjab and Haryana High Court, urging the immediate conduct of the elections.

Earlier, the Punjab and Haryana High Court had issued notices to the Chandigarh Administration and the Municipal Corporation concerning the initial petition. Following this, the Deputy Commissioner had issued an order setting the election date for February 6. However, within 24 hours, another petition was filed.

This marks the fourth petition filed by the Aam Aadmi Party and Congress alliance regarding the mayoral elections. The earlier petitions encompassed issues such as the alleged house arrest of a Congress councillor and the postponement of the elections. The High Court had dismissed the first two petitions.

The subsequent petitions have led to the High Court ordering the videography of the elections and issuing notices for the fourth petition's hearing on January 23, which advocates for the mayoral elections within 24 hours.

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