Punjab Newsline | Chandigarh
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has issued strict directions to ensure transparency and fairness in the municipal council and municipal panchayat elections scheduled in Punjab on May 26. The court ordered the installation of CCTV cameras inside and outside all polling booths across the state, with recordings to be preserved for at least one year.
The court further clarified that the CCTV footage must not be destroyed under any circumstances without proper permission. The directions were issued by a division bench comprising Justice Harsimran Singh Sethi and Justice Deepak Manchanda while hearing multiple petitions related to the civic body elections.
Court Expresses Concern Over Possible Pressure and Interference
During the hearing, petitioners alleged that there was a possibility of irregularities, pressure tactics, and unauthorized interference in the municipal elections. They argued that enhanced security and monitoring measures were necessary to ensure free and fair polling.
The petitioners urged the court to make CCTV surveillance mandatory at polling stations, counting centres, and vote storage areas. They also demanded the appointment of senior IAS, PCS, and police officers as observers to oversee the entire election process.
Representing the Punjab government, the Additional Advocate General informed the court that the Punjab State Election Commission had already decided to install CCTV cameras at polling and counting centres.
The government also stated that senior officials had been appointed as poll observers, who would monitor the election process and submit their reports to the State Election Commission.
