Supreme Court Registry Highlights 14 Deficiencies in Opposition Petition

Mumbai, October 13: The Supreme Court’s registry has identified approximately 14 deficiencies in a petition filed by 11 opposition leaders regarding the Special Intensive Review (SIR) of the voter list. These are procedural objections from the registry and do not reflect any court order or opinion on the petition. Such issues must be resolved before the hearing can proceed.

According to news agency PTI, the registry has requested a clear copy of Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge’s identification document from the lawyer who submitted the petition. Some pages of the submitted documents are illegible, and others are missing. Additionally, the court fees were submitted with a shortfall of 220 rupees.

Major Objection — Lack of Written Consent from 9 of 11 Petitioners

The most significant objection from the registry is that 9 out of the 11 petitioners did not provide written consent when the petition was filed. Only 2 petitioners, representing about 18%, gave their written approval. The remaining 82% of petitioners, including prominent leaders like Rahul Gandhi, Akhilesh Yadav, and Tejashwi Yadav, lack this documentation.

Understanding the Registry’s Objections

The Supreme Court’s registry serves as the administrative office of the court. Any petition must undergo a review by the registry before being listed for hearing. This review checks if the documents are complete, legible, and if necessary consents and affidavits are included, along with the required court fees. If deficiencies are found, they are termed as ‘defects,’ and the filing party is asked to rectify them. Such issues are common and can be resolved. They do not constitute a court order or reflect any opinion on the matters raised in the petition.

What the Petition Seeks

The petition was filed on October 12 and names the Election Commission of India, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, and Election Commissioners Sukbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi as respondents. The petitioners allege that large-scale deletions and irregularities occurred during the SIR. They are calling for the formation of an independent committee, chaired by a retired Supreme Court judge, comprising technical experts and informed citizens, to conduct a timely audit of the names removed and changes made during the SIR.

Before filing the petition, opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, marched to the Supreme Court. The court instructed the registry to address the deficiencies so that the case could be listed for hearing on Tuesday. The bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant is set to hear the case. It remains unconfirmed whether the case was listed for Tuesday’s hearing.

Opposition Meeting on Future Strategy

On Tuesday evening, Rahul Gandhi invited opposition MPs, civil society members, and student organizations to his residence on Golden Bagh Road for ‘high tea’ to discuss future strategies. Topics likely to be addressed include a unified protest against what the opposition terms ‘vote theft’ and a demand for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Opposition MPs will also hold a press conference in the afternoon.

Related News

Opposition Reaches Supreme Court Against SIR: 11 Leaders from 10 Parties as Petitioners, Demand Resignation of Chief Election Commissioner; Hearing Scheduled for Tuesday.

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Kuldeep Singh Chundawat: My name is Kuldeep Singh Chundawat. I am an experienced content writer with several years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including technology, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.