New Delhi: The responsibilities and operational procedures of the Election Commission (EC) are currently a subject of widespread discussion across the country. Questions regarding the EC’s impartiality are being raised everywhere—from the streets to the legislature and the courts. Amidst this, the Supreme Court has reprimanded the Election Commission and made some significant observations.
The Supreme Court expressed strong displeasure over the unavailability of video recordings from the 2023 Sringeri Assembly constituency election in Karnataka. The apex court made it clear that it would not accept any flimsy or false excuses in this matter. The Court questioned how the body responsible for conducting elections could claim that records pertaining to an election have been lost. Following this response, the Court has placed the Election Commission in the dock.
Court expressed displeasure with the Election Commission.
During the hearing, a Supreme Court bench comprising Justice Sanjay Kumar and Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva expressed its dissatisfaction with the Election Commission’s counsel. The Court directed that any remaining documents in the Commission’s possession must be presented at the next hearing, warning that failure to do so could lead to a strict order against the Commission.
Furthermore, the bench asked how the Election Commission of India could claim to have lost records. “Your primary duty is to conduct elections; you must possess the relevant documents. How can you even suggest that you are ‘trying to locate them’?” the bench remarked, adding that such absurd excuses would not be tolerated.
Understanding the case
The matter in which the Supreme Court reprimanded the Election Commission pertains to an election in Karnataka. Congress leader T.D. Rajegowda had won the election, but the BJP candidate, Jeevaraj, challenged the result in the Karnataka High Court. During the proceedings, the High Court ordered a recount of the postal ballots.
This process included the re-verification of 279 postal ballots that had previously been rejected. Following the recount, the Returning Officer announced a revised result, declaring Jeevaraj the winner. Following this, Rajegowda challenged the decision by approaching the Supreme Court.
The matter reached the Supreme Court.
It should be noted that Rajegowda challenged this revised result in the Supreme Court. In May, the Court granted relief to Rajegowda, allowing him to continue in his position as an MLA. He has requested the report from the election observer, as well as the complete video recordings from both instances. The next hearing in this matter has been scheduled for February 15, 2027.
