A Delhi court has declared as null and void the election of Chirag Delhi ward of the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) held last year.
Allowing a petition by Pratibha Chauhan, who was the nearest rival to the candidate who was declared winner in the poll, District and Sessions Judge Asha Menon said, “The petition is allowed and election of Ward No.88-S Chirag Delhi to the SDMC held on 23.04.2017 and result declared on 26.04.2017 are declared null and void.”
The judge directed the State Election Commission and the Returning Officer of the ward to hold a fresh election to the vacant seat.
“The respondents [State Election Commission] and the Returning Officer are directed to hold re-election for the said ward. The decree sheet be prepared accordingly,” the judge said.
“The petitioner has prayed that she be declared the winner in the event a conclusion is reached that the nominations of three candidates, including the winner, have been wrongly accepted. However, in the light of the finding that generally in the scrutiny of the nomination papers there has been laxity including with reference to the nomination filed by petitioner, no such relief can be granted to the petitioner,” the judge added.
