The Supreme Court has heard petitions challenging ECI’s Bihar voter roll revision ahead of state polls. No interim relief granted; Court asserts power to act if irregularities are found.
The Supreme Court of India has postponed the hearing on PILs seeking RTI coverage for major political parties, aimed at enhancing transparency and limiting black money in elections. The case will now be reconsidered on May 15. Advocates argue this could reshape political accountability in India’s electoral system.
The Union Law Ministry confirmed that no changes are planned for the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (CPC). The BJP’s 2024 manifesto promised major reforms in civil and commercial justice to speed up cases and reduce legal burdens. The government also stated that the National Litigation Policy is yet to be finalized. Key legal reforms like ADR, arbitration, and mediation laws are being strengthened to cut delays and improve efficiency in India’s legal system.
Today(on 24th May), The Supreme Court declined to issue an interim order on a petition from the NGO Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), which sought prompt disclosure of authenticated final voter turnout data for all polling stations in the ongoing Lok Sabha Elections 2024, within 48 hours of polls closing.
The Supreme Court set to review a petition about reported voter numbers, raising concerns about potential discrepancies. The NGO Association of Democratic Reforms requested the Election Commission of India to disclose voting numbers and upload scanned copies of Form 17C. Various opposition parties are seeking transparency and accountability from the ECI. Opposition leaders highlighted significant discrepancies.
The ECI submitted an affidavit on 22nd May, to the Supreme Court, arguing against the disclosure of Form 17C data, stating it could confuse voters. The ECI criticized ADR for making false allegations and seeking unfounded entitlements. A potential legal battle looms as the Supreme Court asks ECI to respond to ADR’s application, raising transparency concerns.
Today(on 24th April), the Supreme Court is expected to issue directions on petitions seeking 100% cross-verification of votes in EVMs with VVPAT slips for transparency. The VVPAT serves as an independent mechanism for voters to verify vote accuracy. The bench engaged in detailed discussions on EVM operations and expressed reservations about manual counting.