HC rejects ex-minister’s plea challenging Naina Devi poll result

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has dismissed a petition filed by former minister Randhir Sharma, who contested the election result for the Naina Devi assembly constituency. Sharma’s legal challenge centred on claims that postal ballots were mishandled and that other irregularities occurred during the vote‑counting process.

The petition alleged that the counting of postal ballots was marred by procedural lapses, including alleged discrepancies in the sealing and tabulation of votes. Sharma argued that these alleged faults compromised the integrity of the final tally and warranted a fresh review of the election outcome.

In its order, the High Court found that the petition failed to present concrete evidence supporting the allegations. The court noted that the election authorities had followed established procedures and that no verifiable irregularities were documented during the counting phase. Consequently, the petition was rejected, and the existing election result for Naina Devi was upheld.

The decision brings to a close the legal dispute surrounding the constituency’s representation. With the High Court’s dismissal, the elected candidate’s victory stands validated, and no further judicial review of the counting process will be entertained.

Political observers view the ruling as a reinforcement of the electoral framework, emphasizing that challenges to election results must be grounded in demonstrable irregularities. The outcome also underscores the finality of the vote count once official certifications are issued by the election commission.

The matter now rests with the elected representative, who can focus on constituency duties without the cloud of ongoing litigation.

Source: Hindustan Times