Rediff On The NeT: Make Dandavate, Surendra Mohan returning officers for JD presidential poll: Delhi high court

Make Dandavate, Surendra Mohan returning officers for JD presidential poll: Delhi high court

The Delhi high court on Friday suggested the appointment of Madhu Dandavate and Surendra Mohan as returning officers for the Janata Dal organisational polls.

The high court was hearing JD president Laloo Prasad Yadav's petition. He sought vacation of the court's stay order restraining him from intervening in the party organisational polls.

Justice S N Kapoor said the court wanted free and fair organisational polls in the party and that he was ready to consider any method to ensure it. The judge made the observations while hearing various writ petitions concerning the Janata Dal presidential election, which have been clubbed together.

Though the court was keen that the party should meet the June 15 poll deadline, it would seek a 10-15-day extension from the Election Commission if there was ''pressing reason''. This would be possible only if the differing parties agreed to Dandavate and Surendra Mohan as returning officers. If necessary, a third person could be appointed by the court as an observer, he said.

These senior leaders are held in high esteem by all and there should not be any objection in accepting their names, the judge observed, adding that the court was not imposing the two people but only suggesting their names. The bench had no objection if senior party leaders sat together and reach a consensus on any two names and save the party from being derecognised.

Justice Kapoor said if this was done the court would adopt its own legal means to sort out the problem.

A K Singh, counsel for Laloo Yadav said there should be no objection to holding the election at Patna as party members were not against it. Only the two returning officers appeared opposed to it, he said.

However, the judge refused to allow it, stating that the election should be held at all state capitals. ''Whoever wants to vote in Patna is free to do so, and those unwilling may vote in their respective state capitals,'' the judge observed.

The counsel also sought permission to hold the national executive of the party on June 8. "Dandavate and Surendra Mohan will also be there and a consensus on their names could be reached there,'' he said.

On Thursday, Prasad moved the high court seeking a stay on the June 8 national executive meeting called by Laloo Yadav and for initiating contempt proceedings against the party chief for allegedly violating the May 31 stay order.

Meanwhile, a Delhi court on Thursday summoned Samantray and four other returning officers in a case alleging irregularities in the voters' list for the party presidential poll. The suit was filed by north-east Delhi JD president Harihar Patel, seeking stay on the elections.

Samantray could not be served the notice as he had gone to the Delhi high court. However, two other returning officers were present along with their counsel.

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