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HC directive on appointment of RO to complete BCD poll process
New Delhi, Oct 22: The Delhi High Court has directed the special committee appointed by Bar Council of India (BCI) to look after the affairs of Bar Council of Delhi (BCD) to consider appointment of a new returning officer to resume the suspended counting of votes and complete the BCD election process at the earliest.
New Delhi, Oct 22: The Delhi High Court has directed
the special committee appointed by Bar Council of India (BCI)
to look after the affairs of Bar Council of Delhi (BCD) to
consider appointment of a new returning officer to resume the
suspended counting of votes and complete the BCD election
process at the earliest.
"The special committee shall meet on or before October 24 and deliberate on the question of appointment of a returning officer as well as completion of counting of votes..," Justice B D Ahmed said in his order. The court asked the committee to submit its report by October 28, the next date of hearing.
The order came on a petition filed by advocate Abhay Verma who was among the leading candidates when the counting got suspended during the second round following allegations of "interpolations" in the ballots on October 04.
Returning Officer S K Mendiratta, who sealed the ballots in the presence of the candidates, had resigned thereafter.
According to the court order, the returning officer appointed by the special committee, will be entitled to take charge of the BCD records. However, ballot papers lying in the high court guard room, will be handed over to the returning officer only after his appointment, it said.
Earlier, BCI had appointed a three-man special committee headed by Additional Solicitor General Altaf Hussain to look after its affairs after expiry of BCD's term on September 30.
More than 50 per cent of lawyers on the electoral rolls had cast their votes on September 29 and 30 at the High Court and Tis Hazari Court respectively to elect 25 office bearers of the BCD from among 146 candidates in the fray.
Bureau Report
"The special committee shall meet on or before October 24 and deliberate on the question of appointment of a returning officer as well as completion of counting of votes..," Justice B D Ahmed said in his order. The court asked the committee to submit its report by October 28, the next date of hearing.
The order came on a petition filed by advocate Abhay Verma who was among the leading candidates when the counting got suspended during the second round following allegations of "interpolations" in the ballots on October 04.
Returning Officer S K Mendiratta, who sealed the ballots in the presence of the candidates, had resigned thereafter.
According to the court order, the returning officer appointed by the special committee, will be entitled to take charge of the BCD records. However, ballot papers lying in the high court guard room, will be handed over to the returning officer only after his appointment, it said.
Earlier, BCI had appointed a three-man special committee headed by Additional Solicitor General Altaf Hussain to look after its affairs after expiry of BCD's term on September 30.
More than 50 per cent of lawyers on the electoral rolls had cast their votes on September 29 and 30 at the High Court and Tis Hazari Court respectively to elect 25 office bearers of the BCD from among 146 candidates in the fray.
Bureau Report