Have a look at the biography of Kuldeep Kumar Tita, the Chandigarh mayor
In a significant turn of events, the Supreme Court has declared Kuldeep Kumar as the Mayor of Chandigarh, overturning the results of the mayoral election held on January 30. The election, which saw BJP’s Manoj Sonkar declared the winner, was marred by allegations of rigging and irregularities.
Who is Kuldeep Kumar Tita Mayor of Chandigarh and AAP leader, biography and party
Kuldeep Kumar, who contested as the AAP-Congress coalition candidate, had filed a petition in the Supreme Court challenging the election results. He alleged that the presiding officer, Anil Masih, had wrongly declared eight votes in his favor as invalid, leading to his defeat.
The Supreme Court, after hearing the case, found merit in Kuldeep Kumar’s petition and ruled in his favor. The court stated that the eight votes that were declared invalid should have been counted in his favor. It also issued a notice to Anil, the presiding officer, to explain his conduct within three weeks.
The SC said, “It is evident from the result sheet which we have reproduced earlier, it has emerged that while the petitioner is reflected to have polled 12 votes, the eight votes which are treated as invalid were wrongly treated to be so. Each of those eight invalid votes were in fact validly cast, passed in favour of the petitioner. Adding the eight invalid votes to the 12 votes which the presiding officer recorded to have been polled by the petitioner would make his tally as 20 votes.”
“The eighth respondent, on the other hand, has polled 16 votes. We accordingly order and direct that the result of the election as declared by the presiding officer shall stand quashed and set aside. The petitioner is declared to be the validly elected candidate for election as Mayor of the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation.”
The verdict of Supreme Court has come as a relief to Kuldeep Kumar, who was visibly emotional after the initial results were announced. The decision also highlights the importance of upholding the integrity of the electoral process and ensuring that every vote counts.
The case serves as a reminder of the role of the judiciary in safeguarding democracy and ensuring that elections are free and fair. It also underscores the need for transparency and accountability in the conduct of electoral officials. The Supreme Court’s decision to declare Kuldeep Kumar as the Mayor of Chandigarh is a victory for democracy and the rule of law. It reaffirms the principle that every vote matters and that justice will prevail, no matter how long it takes.
चंडीगढ़ मेयर चुनाव में अनिल मसीह ने 8 बैलेट पेपर पर किस तरह निशान लगाए उसका HD सीसीटीवी फुटेज आ गया है ,
गिनते जाओ और वीडियो आगे शेयर करते रहो ,pic.twitter.com/mVeA8wR2fu
— Nargis Bano (@NargisBano70) February 19, 2024
In a significant ruling, the Supreme Court declared Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) candidate Kuldeep Kumar as the validly elected Mayor of Chandigarh. The court directed that eight ‘invalid’ votes, which were cast in favor of AAP and defaced by the returning officer Anil Masih, be treated as valid. The Court also directed the issuance of a show-cause notice to Anil Masih for his actions.
Details about Kumar’s family and education remain unknown.
Supreme Court’s order
The Supreme Court, in its order, directed that the Deputy Commissioner appoint a fresh Returning Officer for the mayoral polls. The Returning Officer should be an officer of the state who is not aligned with any political party.
The court also instructed the Registrar General of the High Court to appoint a judicial officer to supervise the counting process.
देखिये सुप्रीम कोर्ट में चंडीगढ़ मेयर चुनाव में धांधली करने वाला अपराधी अनिल मसीह डर से कांप रहा है ,
सुप्रीम कोर्ट सब देख रहा है , pic.twitter.com/Uco2H4OJjX
— Nargis Bano (@NargisBano70) February 19, 2024
Reaction from AAP and others
In response to the court’s decision, AAP national convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal expressed gratitude to the Supreme Court for safeguarding democracy during challenging times. The ruling is seen as a major victory for AAP and a vindication of their stance regarding the mayoral election in Chandigarh.
Mr Masih also faces a contempt of court action initiated by the top court, which came down strongly on the former BJP Minority Cell member, who was warned of prosecution if it was found he lied to the court and should Mr Masih be prosecuted – in an earlier hearing the Supreme Court called his actions a “mockery of democracy” and indicated it would do just that – it will be a historic first in independent India, and a stern warning to potential hijacking of poll results weeks before the Lok Sabha election.