Close X
Thursday, November 14, 2024
ADVT 
India

Delhi civic polls: AAP moves SC for free, fair, timely elections

Darpan News Desk IANS, 17 Mar, 2022 11:32 AM
  • Delhi civic polls: AAP moves SC for free, fair, timely elections

New Delhi, March 17 (IANS) Delhi's ruling Aam Aadmi Party has moved the Supreme Court challenging the State Election Commission's (SEC) decision to postpone the municipal elections without any reasonable ground.

The plea contended that the decision has been taken solely on the basis of unofficial communication by the Central government. "The brazen influence of the Government of India over the State Election Commission and its flagrant meddling with the conduct of municipal elections forms the subject matter of this writ petition," said the plea.

The plea sought a direction to the SEC to conduct the municipal elections in Delhi, according to the initially conceived schedule, before the expiry of the tenure of the Municipal Corporations of Delhi, in May 2022, in a free and fair manner.

The petition contended that the SEC, on March 9, issued a press note for holding the polls in April.

"However, precisely half an hour later, by way of a press note, it conveyed that it had received some communication from the Lt. Governor of Delhi, conveying that the Government of India was intending to pass a legislation to merge the trifurcated Municipal Corporations of Delhi. In light of this communication, the press conference to declare the election schedule was indefinitely postponed; the municipal elections consequently being deferred," said the plea.

The plea added that no formal state communication has been issued to this effect yet. Even in the ongoing Budget Session, no agenda has been declared regarding the tabling of a Bill to this effect, it added.

"As no subsequent formal notification, agenda or communication regarding the merger of the Corporations has come from the state, it clearly showed the delaying tactics to hamper the free and fair conduct of elections beyond the constitutionally mandated period of five years, as per Article 243U of the Constitution," it said.

The plea questioned whether the SEC can be influenced by an unofficial communication sent by the Centre to defer municipal elections, which the poll body was prepared to conduct.

"The timing of this communication, right before the declaration of the schedule also leaves much to be desired. The conduct of the government makes evident its attempt to interfere with the free and fair conduct of elections. Instead of stopping the government from doing so and protecting its independence, the respondent commission has given in and deferred the elections", added the plea.

The plea contended that the sole influence of the government in deferring the municipal elections is a clear infringement of the independence of the State Election Commission and an evident obstruction to the impartial conduct of elections.

"Issue a writ of mandamus, directing Respondent Commission to expeditiously conduct the municipal elections in Delhi as per their initial proposal, in a free and fair manner," said the plea.

MORE India ARTICLES

Delhi police arrests NRI agent for procuring fake Greece resident card

Delhi police arrests NRI agent for procuring fake Greece resident card
The accused, identified as Narender Sharma (53), was originally a resident of Dwarka in Delhi and was involved in arranging fake resident cards for people wanting to migrate to Schengen countries.

Delhi police arrests NRI agent for procuring fake Greece resident card

Rs 18,000 cr returned to banks from Mallya, Nirav & Choksi: Centre to SC

Rs 18,000 cr returned to banks from Mallya, Nirav & Choksi: Centre to SC
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta on Wednesday informed the Supreme Court that Rs 18,000 crore have been returned to the banks in the case of Vijay Mallya, Nirav Modi, and Mehul Choksi.

Rs 18,000 cr returned to banks from Mallya, Nirav & Choksi: Centre to SC

Major cocaine cartel busted in Delhi, drugs of Rs 10 cr seized

Major cocaine cartel busted in Delhi, drugs of Rs 10 cr seized
The Special cell of Delhi Police has busted an inter-continental syndicate of cocaine traffickers operating in a highly organized manner and recovered a massive 1,850 grams of contraband valued at approximately Rs 10 crore in the international market.

Major cocaine cartel busted in Delhi, drugs of Rs 10 cr seized

Punjab tops in arms seizure in last 3 years

Punjab tops in arms seizure in last 3 years
According to the data, Punjab tops in the seizure of arms on western border with 110 arms seized during this period whereas the total arms recovered on western border is 134. In the year 2019, seven arms were seized, 42 in 2020, 58 in 2021 and three till January 25 this year in Punjab.

Punjab tops in arms seizure in last 3 years

Dera chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim gets Z-plus security

Dera chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim gets Z-plus security
Rahim is on 21-day furlough from Sunaria jail and is camping in Gurugram. He will be getting 10 NSG security personnel for mobile security and eight security personnel for his residence security. The Haryana government's recommendation to grant the top layer security cover to the convicted sect leader comes following his request.

Dera chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim gets Z-plus security

Major power outages in Chandigarh as employees go on strike

Major power outages in Chandigarh as employees go on strike
Many residential and industrial parts of the city faced major power outages as employees of the Electricity Department went on a three-day strike from Monday night in protest against the privatisation of the department. Most of the places have been facing snapping of power since midnight.

Major power outages in Chandigarh as employees go on strike