23 September 2025 Elections Law >> Constitution & Law Procedure  

The Supreme Court of India has shown grave concern regarding delay in hearing an election petition pending in the Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court. The petition has been filed by Abhay Kumar Dheeraj Ojha challenging the election of Rakesh Kumar Verma from the 250-Raniganj Legislative Assembly Constituency.

A three-judge Bench of Justice Surya Kant, Justice Ujjal Bhuyan, and Justice Nongmeikapam Kotiswar Singh was hearing a special leave petition filed by the petitioner against two High Court orders. The first order, dated May 19, 2025, had contained remarks and the recusal of a judge, and the second, dated August 12, 2025, had adjourned proceedings without significant progress.

 

 

   

While condoning the tardiness of filing the petition, the Supreme Court issued the comment that this was the third round of litigation between the two parties. The Bench observed with disdain that continuous recusal of judges and adjournments had stalled the progress of the election case. The Court commented that it seemed the first respondent, and even his lawyer, were using the tactics of dragging out the matter, such as raising unjustified insinuations against presiding judges.

Making a strong assertion, the Court ordered that the election petition must now be disposed of on a weekly regular basis and expelled expeditiously, ideally within three months. The Court also made it clear that the High Court would be at liberty to deny unnecessary adjournments and continue even if parties or their attorneys did not cooperate.

With these orders, the Supreme Court dismissed the special leave petition as also pending applications relating to the case.