Chandigarh April 23, 2011. The election petition filed by Sh. Jagjit Singh Kang against the election of Sh. Ravinder Pal Singh Palli as Mayor of the Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh came up for hearing today before Sh. Brijendra Singh, Deputy Commissioner, Chandigarh. After hearing both the sides, the Deputy Commissioner framed the issues in the Election Petition. The petitioner in this case was represented by Sh. Satya Pal Jain, Senior Advocate with Sh. Dheeraj Jain, Advocate and the respondent by Mrs. Anu Chatrath, Advocate.
Mr. Jain insisted on framing of the issues like – Whether the election was properly held, whether the election is invalid, whether the petitioner is entitled to be declared elected as Mayor, etc. etc. On the other hand, Mrs. Chatrath insisted on framing of issues like – Whether the petition is vague and lacks in material facts, whether the petitioner had moved any application for recounting, whether the petition is not liable to be allowed and that the election procedure was followed as prescribed by law. After hearing both the sides, the Deputy Commissioner framed a total of 18 issues in the petition.The Deputy Commissioner, thereafter, fixed the next date for recording of evidence on behalf of the petitioner on 28th April, 2011. Mr. Jain pointed out that the record of the election has already been received from the Municipal Corporation. Now the case will come up for hearing on April 28 for recording the evidence of Mr. Kang and any other witnesses on his behalf. Mr. Jain told the court that he will be completing his evidence on the next date of hearing itself.
It may be mentioned that Sh. Kang has challenged the election of Sh. Palli as Mayor, Municipal Corporation Chandigarh on the allegation that the Congress (I) councilors were pressurized by Sh. Pawan Kumar Bansal, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister to click the photo of their ballot papers, thus violating the principal of secrecy and that Sh. Bansal openly flouted the Ruling of the Chairman that no member shall be allowed to take his Mobile Phone inside the polling booth by saying “I will take my mobile, you do whatever you can do”.