Rajasthan HC Stays Khatu Shyam Ji Chairman Election

What Happened on Election Day

The petition stated that 19 of the 20 elected councillors had cast their votes within the stipulated period. The only councillor who did not reach the polling venue was Lakshmi Devi from Ward No. 10. Despite her absence, the Returning Officer allegedly extended voting time around five times.

A Process That Stretched Into the Night

The process continued until approximately 11:30 p.m. After the voting was halted, the ballot box was sealed and kept in a strong room, and the election was adjourned. Reports at the time said the State Election Commission subsequently postponed the process after Lakshmi Devi failed to appear for voting.

The Petitioner's Core Argument

The petitioner argued that since 19 councillors had already exercised their franchise, the votes already cast should be counted and the result declared. The petition contended that instead of starting the election process afresh, the authorities should complete the counting of votes already polled. It further argued that stopping the process after 19 councillors had voted and subsequently ordering a fresh election was not in accordance with the applicable rules.

The Election Commission's Rescheduled Process

Meanwhile, the Rajasthan State Election Commission rescheduled the Khatu Shyam Ji Municipality Chairman election for September 25 after police traced Lakshmi Devi. The Vice-Chairman election is scheduled for September 26, indicating that the broader leadership process for the municipality was proceeding on a defined timeline before the court's intervention.

What Happens Next

The High Court proceedings will determine how it handles the petition challenging the election process, leaving the final outcome of both the Chairman's election and the underlying legal dispute over how the earlier voided process should have been handled pending further judicial consideration.