Electoral Reforms Long-awaited, Says Supreme Court

Supreme Court agrees that electoral reforms have long been overdue.

The Supreme Court of India, New Delhi. (Photo: Reuters)

The Supreme Court on Friday accepted that electoral reforms are “long awaited” but refused to entertain a PIL from several eminent citizens seeking reforms.

Cases filed by several prominent names sought verification of details of contestants from the Election Commission.

Top cop Julio F Ribeiro, twelve others including former CAG Vijay K Shunglu, former Air Chief Marshal S Krishnaswamy, former DGP Prakash Singh and ex-IIT Director SK Dubey had co-petitioned the apex court on the issue.

The apex court also said poll reforms have to be carried out by the legislature but simultaneously expressed apprehension that they may not do it.

The bench headed by Chief Justice TS Thakur comprised of Justices R Banumathi and UU Lalit.

The election reforms are long awaited. Only they (legislature) can make law, but we know that they will not do this.

TS Thakur, Chief Justice of India

Terming the task of verification as “cumbersome”, the bench said that the court cannot ask the Election Commission to undertake this exercise as it was upto the Parliament.

At the outset, the court said, “how do you expect the Election Commission to go on verifying details of thousands and thousands of candidates...”.

Allowing the petitioners to withdraw their pleas, the bench asked the counsels of the petitioners to approach the EC directly.

“Persuade them outside the court. Let us see how they respond,” the bench said.