Supply Haryana election documents to Advocate Mehmood Pracha: HC

The ECI’s counsel argued that Pracha was neither a resident of Haryana nor a candidate in any Assembly constituency, claiming the request was driven by “malicious intent.”

However, Advocate Isha Janjua, representing Pracha, contended that under the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961, any person is entitled to access such documents upon payment of the prescribed fee. She clarified that while candidates receive these documents free of cost, others can obtain them by paying the requisite charges, and Pracha was willing to do so.

After hearing the arguments, Justice Vinod S Bhardwaj directed the ECI to supply the requested documents within six weeks of Pracha submitting an application and paying the required fees. The court, however, excluded documents restricted under the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961, from this order.