The Supreme Court on May 31, refused to entertain a plea seeking directions to the Election Commission of India for re-polling at Munger parliamentary constituency, Bihar, where allegedly booth capturing had happened with the connivance of the local administration.
A bench of Justices Satish Chandra Sharma and Prasanna B Varale asked the petitioner to approach the High Court. The bench took exception to the petitioner not approaching Patna High Court first and filing the petition in the apex court directly.
“Where is the rejection order? Why don’t you go to the High Court? Without going to the High Court, you are blaming the High Court. The High Courts are not closed in this country. Please go to the High Court and argue all this before the High court,” the bench said.
The petitioner Kumari Anita then chose to withdraw the plea.
The petitioner alleged booth capturing and rigging of the elections in Bihar’s constituency Munger allegedly by the members of the ruling political party JDU along with the aid of the government officials. The petition has sought direction to the ECI to conduct re-polling in multiple booths of Lukhisarai assembly constituency, Mokana Vidhan Sabha constituency, Suryagarha assembly constituency all of which are part of Munger, Bihar.
It has sought direction to Election Commission of India for removing District Magistrate Avaneesh Kumar Singh from all the administrative responsibilities and to conduct free and fair elections in the Munger Constituency as well as the free and fair counting of the votes.
The Lok Sabha elections in Bihar’s Munger Lok Sabha constituency were held on May 13, 2024.
(with inputs from ANI)
