Scorelines reversed after first-ever EVM recount in Supreme Court

JIND: His victory sealed by the first-ever recount of an EVM result in the Supreme Court, Mohit Kumar Thursday took oath as sarpanch of Buvana Lakhu village, 25km from Panipat district HQ in Haryana.In the 2022 panchayat polls, Kuldeep Singh was declared winner and served as sarpanch for 33 months. In the SC-ordered recount, the result was reversed, with Mohit found to have 51 more votes.A bench of Justices Surya Kant, Dipankar Datta and NK Singh directed the Panipat deputy commissioner-cum-election officer to issue a notification within two days declaring Mohit elected and allowing him to assume office immediately.Seven candidates contested the Buana Lakhu sarpanch post, with Mohit and Kuldeep as the main contenders. Six booths were set up, numbered 65-70, but an error occurred at Booth 69, where their vote counts got swapped. "Of the 3,767 votes polled, I secured 1,051 while Kuldeep got 1,000. At Booth 69, 254 of my votes were wrongly credited to him, triggering the dispute," Mohit said.He alleged irregularities in counting, prompting a recount that showed him ahead by 51 votes.

He was declared winner again on Nov 2, 2022, but Kuldeep secured a Punjab and Haryana HC stay for over 18 months.Mohit moved Panipat tribunal, which ordered another recount, but Kuldeep again got a stay. In July 2024, Mohit approached SC, which on July 31 ordered a fresh count. The recount was conducted on Aug 11 on SC premises in the presence of both parties."Justice was delayed but it was served well. The entire village is happy," Mohit said.