Implead candidates for defacing walls: Himachal HC

Acting tough against defacing of walls with poll-related material, the Himachal Pradesh High Court on Monday directed for impleading as respondents all candidates in the fray in three assembly constituencies in Shimla and its periphery.

A Division Bench of Acting Chief Justice Sanjay Karol and Justice Ajay Mohan Goel issued the order on a petition filed by advocate Deven Khanna.

The petitioner alleged that all political parties were painting every possible available place with slogans and appeal for votes, whereas writing on walls of government properties is prohibited under the Himachal Pradesh Open Places (Prevention of Disfigurement Act), 1985.

After going through the Chief Electoral Officer's affidavit, the bench observed that certain steps have been taken but the whole of Shimla, which essentially forms part of three assembly constituencies of Shimla (Urban), Shimla (Rural) and Kasumpati, has been defaced.

The court listed the matter for next hearing on Tuesday.

The 17 candidates in the fray include Bharatiya Janata Party's legislator Suresh Bhardwaj, who is recontesting the Shimla seat, Congress legislator Anirudh Singh from Kasumpati and Vikramaditya Singh, son of Congress leader Virbhadra Singh, who is making his debut from Shimla (Rural), a seat his father currently represents.

Elections to the 68-member Himachal Pradesh assembly will be held on November 9 and counting of votes held on December 18 along with votes polled in Gujarat assembly elections.

--IANS

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