The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Tuesday disposed of a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Congress leader Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, which sought mandatory videography of the vote counting process for local body elections. The court noted that the State Election Commission (SEC) of Punjab had already issued the necessary instructions, making the plea redundant.
Court's Rationale for Disposal
Pronouncing the order, Chief Justice Sheel Nagu observed that the Election Commission had, through directions issued on October 30 and December 1, provided for videography of the counting process scheduled for December 17. This action effectively addressed the core relief sought in the petition. The Chief Justice stated, "In view of the above, the prayer made in this petition appears to have been satisfied for the time being, and therefore the cause raised has become infructuous." Consequently, the court disposed of the petition without examining its merits.
Details of the PIL and Petitioner's Concerns
Ludhiana MP and Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring had approached the high court through advocate Nikhil Ghai. The PIL sought directions to the State Election Commission to record and preserve videography of the entire counting process across Punjab for the Zila Parishad and Panchayat Samiti elections. Polling for these elections was held on December 14.
Warring's petition cited apprehensions of potential irregularities during the counting of paper ballots. It argued that the absence of mandatory videography made the process opaque and vulnerable to manipulation. The plea emphasized that counting is the most sensitive and determinative stage of elections, requiring heightened transparency to uphold public confidence in grassroots democracy. Notably, the PIL did not challenge any specific election result but sought preventive safeguards to ensure transparency and accountability.
Election Commission's Instructions on Record
The court took on record the Election Commission's detailed instructions governing videography and preservation of the counting process. By formally acknowledging these existing directives, the court found no immediate need to issue a fresh judicial mandate. The SEC's proactive steps in issuing orders for the December 17 counting date were deemed sufficient to allay the concerns raised in the public interest litigation regarding election transparency.
