The Supreme Court on Monday said it will examine all decisions of the Election Commission, or EC, and annul those found not to be in accordance with law, as it issued notices to the Centre and the poll body following pleas alleging that the top poll body took several decisions without the approval of the two election commissioners.
Indira Gandhi’s victory from Raebareli in the 1971 Lok Sabha elections was challenged by her rival, Raj Narain. She faced allegations of misusing the government machinery and officials. On June 2, 1975, the Allahabad High Court set aside Indira Gandhi’s election.
“We will examine all the decisions. If any decision is not in accordance with the law, we will annul it. She faced allegations of misusing the government machinery and officials. Later, the Supreme Court ruled in their favor. The Court also barred him from contesting elections for six years. However, Shaji immediately approached the Supreme Court, which granted an interim stay on his disqualification and allowed him to continue as an MLA in the Assembly, albeit without voting rights or daily allowances. However, the Supreme Court had stayed the High Court’s decision.
Indira Gandhi’s victory from Raebareli in the 1971 Lok Sabha elections was challenged by her rival, Raj Narain. Following allegations of communal campaigning during the 1977 Kerala Assembly elections, the High Court set aside the elections of C H Mohammed Koya and KM Mani; both were ministers in AK Antony’s first government. In November 2018, the Kerala High Court set aside the election victory of IUML (UDF) MLA KM Shaji from the Azhikode constituency – won during the 2016 Kerala Assembly elections – following a petition by his rival, MV Nikesh Kumar (LDF). He was found guilty of serious charges under Section 123(3) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, for distributing pamphlets during the campaign that urged voters to support only a Muslim candidate and for improperly exploiting religious sentiments (constituting corrupt practice). In July 2023, the Madras High Court declared the 2019 Lok Sabha election victory of OP Ravindranath Kumar – the lone AIADMK MP from Tamil Nadu’s Theni constituency and son of former Chief Minister O Panneerselvam – null and void. A petition filed by a voter from the constituency alleged that Ravindranath had concealed information regarding his assets and income in his nomination papers and had attempted to bribe or influence voters during the campaign; the Court deemed these actions improper under the Representation of the People Act, 1951.
You know the power of the court,” a bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana said.
