PIL Before Delhi High Court To Allow Arrested Politicians To Campaign Through VC For Lok Sabha Polls 2024

A PIL has been filed before the Delhi High Court seeking a direction upon the Election Commission of India (ECI) to develop a mechanism to ensure that arrested political leaders are allowed to campaign through VC for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls 2024.

The plea has been filed by Amarjeet Gupta, a final year law student and has been moved through Advocate Md. Imran Ahmad.

A direction is also sought on the Central Government to provide information about the arrest of a political leader or a candidate immediately to the Election Commission of India.

Gupta is aggrieved by the timing of arrest of politicians after the announcement of model code of conduct by ECI, particularly Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, national convener of Aam Aadmi Party.

Gupta is aggrieved by the fact that electors are deprived of their fundamental right to get information under Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution of India from the said politicians by way of being spectators and listeners of election campaigning.

“Further, the leaders of political parties are also deprived of their constitutionally guaranteed fundamental and legal right to campaigning during the election,” the plea said.

Gupta has said that he sent a representation to the authorities but the same has not been responded to.

“The Petitioner also highlights that the electors of India in general and Delhi in particular have been subjected to be uninformed voters because they are not able to learn about the objectiveness and the ideology of a nationalal party as the leader of the said political party is arrested while MCC is still in force,” the PIL reads.

Title: AMARJEET GUPTA v. ELECTION COMMISSION OF INDIA & ORS.