Zila Parishad elections: Akali Dal moves HC over viral conference of senior police official
Chandigarh, Dec 4
The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Thursday petitioned the Punjab and Haryana high court to register a FIR against Patiala Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Varun Sharma as well as order his suspension over a purported viral virtual conference call in which the official was heard directing the district police force to prevent Akali Dal candidates from filing their nomination papers for the Block Samiti and Zila Parishad elections.
The petition was filed in the High Court following an expose by SAD president Sukhbir Badal, who released the entire recording of the Patiala SSP giving explicit directions to the district police to prevent Opposition candidates, particularly those from SAD, from reaching the office of the Returning Officer to file their nomination papers.
The SAD president has taken up this issue as one in which the democratic right to vote of a citizen has been snatched by the extra-constitutional actions of the SSP in a planned and premeditated manner to benefit the Aam Aadmi Party.
Badal asserted that similar directions had been issued to the police force across the state at the instance of the government and demanded the intervention of the Election Commissioner, besides approaching the high court.
The court issued notice to the state government as well as the state Election Commission for Monday. The petition, filed as a Public Interest Litigation (PIL), by former legislator Daljit Singh Cheema sought urgent judicial safeguards to ensure the conduct of free and fair elections to the Block Samitis and Zila Parishads, slated on December 14.
It highlighted how the SSP had orchestrated a criminal conspiracy via a viral conference call to block Opposition candidates from filing nominations through intimidation, wrongful restraint and paper snatching.
The petition, filed by the party’s legal cell head Arshdeep Kler, said key audio excerpts revealed directives to detain opponents at their homes or en route to the Block Development Officer or SDM office on the orders of AAP legislators, besides ensuring Returning Officers rejected entries and engineered uncontested wins.
Asserting that the Patiala SSP was spoiling the peace in the state by creating a “private militiaâ€, the petition called for deployment of the Central Armed Police Forces (CRPF) or independent observers till the conduct of elections and counting process in Patiala district was not completed.
— IANS
Reader Comments
As an observer of Indian politics, this is deeply concerning. Free and fair elections are the bedrock of any democracy. The High Court's intervention is crucial. Hope justice prevails.
Yaar, this is so shameful. Using police to stop nominations? This is not the Punjab we know. The SSP should be suspended immediately pending inquiry. Full support to SAD for taking this to court.
While the allegations are serious, we must also wait for the government's side in court. Audio can be edited. Let's not jump to conclusions. The court will examine the evidence properly.
This is exactly why people lose faith in the system. If true, it's a criminal conspiracy. Deploying central forces might be the only way to ensure fair polls now. The EC needs to act fast.
The petition's mention of a "private militia" is a strong term. It highlights how dangerous it is when state machinery is misused for political gains. Hope the judiciary safeguards democratic principles.
Very disturbing news. Local body elections are the foundation of our democracy. If candidates can't even file nominations, what hope is there for the common voter? Shameful act if proven. ðŸ˜
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