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Supreme Court Seeks Response on Electoral Roll Petition
The Supreme Court on Thursday, October 15, sought a response from the Election Commission regarding a petition filed by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and other opposition leaders. The petition alleges large-scale deletion of voters and irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi issued notice to the poll panel, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, and Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi. The court stated that the petition would be heard alongside similar cases already pending before it.
The petitioners include Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Trinamool Congress MP Saugata Roy, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, and RJD leader Tejashwi Prasad Yadav. The registry flagged 14 defects in the petition, including missing documents and a shortfall in court fees, while also questioning the naming of individual election commissioners as respondents.
Questions Raised Regarding Opposition March
In a separate matter, the court issued notice to Gandhi, Akhilesh Yadav, and others regarding their march to the apex court on Monday, October 12. During the hearing, the bench observed that "nobody can browbeat judiciary" and noted that it was not sitting in "ivory towers." The court indicated it would ask one of the petitioners about his conduct during the proceedings.
The opposition leaders marched to the court with other opposition MPs on October 12 amid protests demanding the resignation of the Chief Election Commissioner over alleged irregularities in the SIR. This march occurred prior to the current hearing on the merits of the electoral roll revision.
Contempt Proceedings and Additional Pleas
The court also addressed a separate contempt case relating to alleged violations of its directions regarding Metro and train services in Delhi during an October 10 protest called by the Cockroach Janta Party. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta referred to an unconditional apology tendered by Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan in this context, stating that an apology did not mean authorities could not defend their actions.
The bench told Mehta it was not taking note of media reports about officials apologising to the court. The contempt case relates to alleged violation of the court’s direction regarding no “complete prohibition” on Metro and train services in Delhi during the protest.
Additionally, the court issued notice to the Centre and others on pleas relating to the Election Commission filed by AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi and Congress leader Digvijaya Singh. The court also agreed to examine a plea challenging the de-notification of Jantar Mantar as a designated protest site.
