New Delhi, February 21
The dispute between the ruling INLD and the Election Commission (EC) over advancing the date for counting of votes today reached the Supreme Court as a candidate of the party moved a petition challenging the poll panel's decision to this effect.
INLD's candidate Zile Singh from the Salhwas constituency challenged the decision to advance the date to February 23 from February 27 on the ground that it was in contravention of the provisions of election laws.
Senior advocate Mukul Rohtagi, appearing for Mr Zile Singh made a special mention about filing of the petition and sought its urgent hearing today.
But a Bench of Chief Justice R.C. Lahoti, Mr Justice D.M. Dharamadhikari and Mr Justice B.N. Srikrishna posted the matter for hearing tomorrow. Mr Rohtagi wanted the matter to be heard today, saying that the notices have to go to the EC and the Chief Electoral Officer of Haryana.
"There are more than one lakh postal ballots in the state and these have to be sent to the returning officers concerned before the counting has to be taken up," he said.
Mr Rohtagi said the decision for advancing the counting date would negate the EC's own notification declaring the poll schedule in the state, according to which the date for counting was fixed on February 27.
He said as per the Representation of People Act (RPA) and Conduct of Election Rules the postal ballots had to be taken up for counting first followed by the other votes.
