Madras High Court Rejects PIL Seeking ECI's Response To Rahul Gandhi's 'Voter List Manipulation' Claim; Slaps Fine

The Madras High Court has dismissed a public interest litigation asking the Election Commission of India to clarify its position regarding the allegations raised by Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, regarding large-scale voter list manipulation in the 2024 General Elections to the 18th Lok Sabha. The bench of Chief Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava and Justice G Arul Murugan noted that the plea lacked materials and only referred to the allegations and counter-allegations made by the parties. The court also noted that the plea was in the nature of asking the court to conduct a roving enquiry into the issue. “The petition lacks concrete material and only refers to allegations, counter-allegations made on certain platform. The petition only reproduces those allegations, without there being any independent research. It seeks this court to make roving enquiry. With the present content and form, it is vague, lacks material details and particulars,” the court observed. The court also noted that the Election Commission could not be asked to clarify its position, as sought for in the plea. Noting that the plea was misconceived, the court also imposed a cost of Rs. 1 Lakh on the petitioner which was to be paid to the Tamil Nadu Legal Services Authority within one month. At the same time, the court also added that it was not expressing any opinion on the merits of the case and left it to be considered by the appropriate authority. The court also remarked that the order would not come in the way of the Election Commission in taking its own decision based on the issues raised in the petitions. “We have not expressed any opinion on merits and leave it to be considered in appropriately constituted petition. Further, this order shall not come in the way of the Election Commission in taking its own decision on issues sought to be raised in the petition,” the court said. It may be noted that a PIL has also been filed in the Supreme Court seeking constitution of a Special Investigation Team(SIT) headed by a former Judge to inquire into the allegations raised by the Leader of Opposition, Rahul Gandhi, regarding large-scale voters list manipulation in the Bengaluru Central constituency during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Counsel for the Petitioner: Mr. V. Venkata Sivakumar (Appearing in person) Counsel for the Respondent: Mr. Niranjan Rajagopalan, Standing Counsel, Mr. K. Seetha Ram, Senior Panel Counsel Case Title: Adv V Venkata Sivakumar v. The Election Commission of India and Others Citation: 2025 LiveLaw (Mad) 303 Case No: WP No.34108 of 2025Click Here To Read/Download The Judgment

Madras High Court Rejects PIL Seeking ECI's Response To Rahul Gandhi's 'Voter List Manipulation' Claim; Slaps Fine

Upasana Sajeev

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