Patna, April 17 Voting for various posts in the Patna High Court Advocates' Association concluded peacefully on Friday, with an impressive 62 per cent voter turnout recorded among the 5,262 eligible advocate voters.
The election was conducted within the premises of the Patna High Court after due permission from the administration, subject to specific conditions. These included a ban on loudspeakers and ensuring that court proceedings remained uninterrupted.
All judges and lawyers carried out their routine court proceedings as on a normal working day. The voting arrangements were set up in a designated section of the Patna High Court premises.
Polling was held from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and the process remained orderly throughout the day.
The election will determine representatives for multiple important posts, including president, general secretary, three vice presidents, joint secretary, co-secretary, and other posts.
A total of 109 candidates contested across nine different posts, making it a highly competitive election. Twenty-four candidates were in the fray for three Vice President posts, 15 candidates for three Joint Secretary posts, and 12 candidates for three Assistant Secretary posts.
Advocate voters cast their ballots using the traditional paper system, marking a ‘cross’ (X) against their preferred candidates. Any ballot marked with a symbol other than a cross will be considered invalid.
Returning Officer Anjani Kumar supervised the process and reiterated the voting guidelines to ensure transparency and fairness.
After polling concluded, ballot boxes were sealed in the presence of candidates and moved to a secure location.
The counting of votes is scheduled to begin on Saturday at 9:00 a.m., following which the results will be declared. The candidates are expecting results in the afternoon.
The peaceful conduct and strong participation reflect the democratic spirit within one of the state’s most prominent legal bodies, with keen interest now shifting to the outcome of this closely contested election.
--IANS
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