SC finds 14 defects in INDIA bloc’s plea against CEC

A petition filed by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and 10 other INDIA bloc leaders challenging alleged electoral irregularities and the functioning of the Election Commission of India is unlikely to be heard by the Supreme Court on Tuesday after the court registry flagged 14 defects in the filing.

The defects include a shortfall of Rs 220 in court fees, an illegible photocopy of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge’s identity card and missing vakalatnamas for nine of the 11 petitioners, according to a report by the Hindustan Times.

The petitioners’ legal team has requested that the matter be listed on Wednesday after the defects are rectified.

The plea seeks an independent, time-bound inquiry into decisions allegedly taken unilaterally by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. It also seeks a suspension of the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls pending the inquiry.

Among those who have yet to submit their vakalatnamas are Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) MP Supriya Sule, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut and Trinamool Congress MP Saugata Roy.

The registry also questioned the inclusion of the three election commissioners as respondents, in addition to the Election Commission of India, in a writ petition framed as a public interest litigation.

The filing came a day after Chief Justice of India Surya Kant declined a meeting with Rahul Gandhi and Kharge but indicated that their concerns could be raised through judicial proceedings. He also assured an expeditious hearing if they approached the court.

The petition followed an INDIA bloc march towards the Supreme Court on Monday, led by Rahul Gandhi and other Opposition leaders, to protest alleged irregularities in the SIR exercise and demand accountability from the Chief Election Commissioner.