UP Legislative Council Elections: ECI Assures Allahabad High Court Of Continuous Polling Station Videography
The Election Commission of India (ECI) today assured the Allahabad High Court that it will conduct continuous, uninterrupted videography of polling proceedings inside all polling stations during the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council elections from the Lucknow Division Graduates' Constituency.
Polling will be held from 8 am to 4 pm tomorrow using ballot papers. Vote counting is scheduled for October 27.
Taking on record this submission, a Bench of Justice Alok Mathur and Justice Abdhesh Kumar Chaudhary disposed of a plea filed by one Shailendra Singh whose grievance pertained to transparency in the conduct of the said elections
Singh is also contesting the UP MLC election from the Lucknow Division Graduates' Constituency as an independent candidate.
Singh sought a direction to the authorities to ensure that polling proceedings inside all polling stations are videographed on the date of polling and the videography must be "continuous and uninterrupted" and conducted under the supervision of an accountable officer.
His plea relied on paragraph 49 of the Handbook for Returning Officers for Elections to the Council of States and State Legislative Councils, published by the ECI in February 2016. He also referred to Chapter IX, paragraph 14 of the handbook, which prescribes the procedure for videography.
Appearing for the Election Commission of India, Senior Advocate OP Srivastava submitted, on instructions from the Chief Electoral Officer, Uttar Pradesh, that the Commission had already made provision to comply with paragraph 49 of the handbook.
The Court recorded his submission:
"...provision has already been made for compliance of Paragraph 49 of the aforesaid Handbook and the videography would be conducted in terms of the provisions provided in the said Handbook".
Following this assurance, Senior Advocate Gaurav Mehrotra, appearing for the petitioner, submitted that his grievance stood satisfied if the ECI's statement regarding compliance with the videography provisions in the handbook was recorded by the Court.
The Bench accordingly disposed of the petition in terms of the statement made on behalf of the respondents.