The Supreme Court Today (Aug 25) stayed FIRs against Delhi-based election analyst Sanjay Kumar for posting incorrect voter data about the 2024 polls in Maharashtra. Kumar admitted his mistake, deleted the posts, and apologised publicly.
The Justice L Nageswara Rao committee has invited lawyers to provide inputs on reforms in the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) elections. SCBA members have been asked to share their views on changes to eligibility, tenure, and voting norms. The initiative aims to enhance transparency and efficiency in the election process. Suggestions from legal professionals will play a key role in shaping the reforms.
Sharad Pawar’s faction in the NCP filed a Supreme Court petition against Ajit Pawar’s use of the ‘clock’ symbol, asserting it confuses voters and misleads during upcoming elections. They argue for a new symbol to ensure clarity, fair elections, and to prevent exploitation of this confusion amid an ongoing ownership dispute.
Today, On 16th May, the Supreme Court questioned the Election Commission of India about the delay in publishing total votes polled within 48 hours of polling. The court urged transparency and timely dissemination of election data. The ECI’s response is awaited. This development showcases the judiciary’s role in ensuring electoral transparency. The ECI has been directed to respond to the petition seeking disclosure of final authenticated voter turnout data within 48 hours of polling. This request is in light of concerns over the substantial increase in final voter turnout data compared to initial estimates, raising questions about the correctness of the data. The Supreme Court has given the ECI a week to file its reply, with the case set for consideration on May 24.
The Supreme Court will hear a plea by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) Tomorrow-May 17th, seeking real-time publication of polling data. The NGO aims to ensure transparency and accountability by making polling station-wise voter turnout data available to the public and address concerns related to electoral irregularities in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections.