New Delhi: The Delhi High Court has issued notices in response to petitions claiming that the recent New Delhi Bar Association (NDBA) elections at Patiala House Courts were marred by unfair practices.
Justice Mini Pushkarna directed the Election Commissioner, Observer, and Returning Officer to file their replies and clarified that the March 21 poll results would remain subject to the courtโs final decision.
The court also ordered the Returning Officer to submit video footage of the voting process along with voter verification records. The petitioners have demanded the cancellation of the election results, citing alleged violations during the polls.
Senior Advocate KK Sharma, representing one of the petitioners, claimed that unauthorized individuals attempted to disrupt the voting process. โSupporters of certain candidates entered polling stations without valid proximity cards, creating chaos for over 1.5 hours,โ he said.
Sharma further alleged that due to technical glitches in the proximity scan system, unverified members were allowed to cast votes, leading to discrepanciesโ1,850 cards were scanned, but 2,034 votes were recorded.
In response, the Returning Officerโs counsel defended the election process, stating that proper verification measures were in place. โEven if there was a software issue, physical verification ensured only eligible voters participated. All declaration forms have been securely stored,โ the counsel argued.
Separately, similar petitions have been filed concerning alleged malpractices in the Saket Court and Rouse Avenue Court bar association elections. The High Courtโs intervention underscores growing concerns over transparency in lawyersโ body polls.
