Disappearance of ballot box is serious matter, says High Court

KOCHI: The High Court on Tuesday observed that the incident of the disappearance of the ballot box of the 2021 assembly election in the Perinthalmanna constituency from the treasury was very serious. Justice A Badaruddin, who heard the petition, added the Election Commission and the Sub-Collector as parties in the case. The court made the observation while considering the petition filed by LDF-independent candidate KPM Mustafa questioning the election of Najeeb Kanthapuram of the Muslim League.

In 2021, Najeeb had won the election in Perinthalmanna by 38 votes. The court had earlier rejected the stay petition filed by Najeeb seeking to dismiss the petition filed by the LDF candidate against this.

The ballot box went missing from the strong room of the Perinthalmanna sub-treasury while the court was considering the election petition for a detailed hearing. This box was found at the office of the Co-operative Joint Registrar at Malappuram Civil Station the other day. The box was then produced in the High Court before the court considered the case.

Najeeb demanded that the missing ballot box be investigated under the supervision of the court or the Election Commission. The single bench directed the ballot box to be kept in the safe custody of the High Court.

Disappearance of ballot box: Show-cause notices issued to four employees

Malappuram District Collector VR Premkumar served a showcase notice to four officials in the incident in which the ballot box that went missing from the strong room of the Perinthalmanna sub-treasury was found at the office of the Co-operative Joint Registrar at Malappuram Civil Station. The notice was issued to Perinthalmanna Sub-Treasury Officer, former Joint Registrar at the General Office of Malappuram Co-operative Society and senior inspector. The officers have been asked to give a reply within 7 days.