New Delhi: The Supreme Court has rejected an appeal against a Bombay High Court ruling that dismissed a petition challenging the validity of the Maharashtra Assembly elections.
The appeal was moved by one Chetan Ahire, a voter from Vikhroli.
He alleged procedural irregularities during the 2024 elections, claiming that over 76 lakh votes were cast after 6 pm, without proper oversight from the Election Commission of India (ECI).
The High Court had called the petition a “gross abuse of the process of law,” and questioned Ahire’s legal standing to challenge the entire election process across 288 constituencies.
the High Court had also noted that the petition relied on third-party information and lacked a valid election petition under the Representation of the People Act. “There is not a scratch of legal injury suffered by the petitioner,” the High Court had ruled while dismissing the plea.
In his appeal, the petition questioned the lack of data on 76 lakh votes allegedly cast after 6 pm, which Ahire’s counsel argued is mandatory under election laws and essential for ensuring electoral transparency.
The Supreme Court bench led by Justices MM Sundresh and Nongmeikapam Kotiswar Singh questioned the locus standi of the petitioner.
This comes at a time when Opposition parties have launched a campaign against the Election Commission of India, alleging malpractices in the preparation of electoral rolls.