The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on February 27 dismissed a complaint alleging that the February 20, 2024 Supreme Court judgment has resulted in violation of human rights of Anil Masih, Presiding Officer, Chandigarh Mayor election.
The matter pertains to civil appeal No. 2874 of 2024 concerning Kuldeep Kumar vs. U.T. of Chandigarh and Others. In its verdict announced last week, the apex court declared the Aam Aadmi Party’s Kuldeep Kumar as the new Mayor of the union territory of Chandigarh. The court said it would not tolerate “subterfuges” that destroy electoral democracy even at the local level.
The verdict was pronounced by a three-judge Bench headed by Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud, who initiated action against Mr. Masih, for “defacing” eight ballot papers and who was caught in the act on security cameras after which the BJP’s Manoj Sonkar took oath as the Mayor. The Supreme Court had intervened on February 5 to sequester the ballot papers and video records of the polling day.
