The Supreme Court stays the counting of votes for the Bar Council of Delhi (BCD) elections after allegations of ballot tampering. Hearing a plea filed by Birender Sangwan and others, a bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant and including Justice Joymalya Bagchi orders that counting will not proceed for the time being. The court directs the matter to be handled by the Delhi High Court and asks the High Court’s Chief Justice to constitute a special bench for expeditious, day-to-day hearing.
The Supreme Court notes that effective adjudication may require summoning original records, including ballot papers, and therefore transfers the petitions to a division bench. The apex court requests the petitions be listed before a special bench within the course of the week. The court’s interim order keeps the results from being finalized while the legal challenge over the alleged tampering is considered.
Both outlets report that the High Court is expected to take up the dispute on an expedited schedule, with the special bench approach intended to ensure timely resolution of the allegations.
