SC Flags 14 Defects in INDIA Bloc Plea Against EC: Missing Signatures, Fee Shortage
The Supreme Court registry has flagged 14 defects in the INDIA bloc's petition filed against the Election Commission of India, delaying its listing. The identified flaws include missing vakalatnamas or signed lawyer authorisations for 9 out of 11 petitioners, including Akhilesh Yadav, Tejashwi Yadav, and Sanjay Raut. The registry also pointed out an illegible identity copy of Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, an incomplete court fee short by 220 rupees, and missing supporting records. Furthermore, the registry questioned why individual election commissioners were named alongside the Election Commission as an institution. The top court has asked for digital copies of the June 24 Election Commission decision and records concerning claimed voter deletions on a pen drive. The legal team representing the opposition alliance must rectify all flagged procedural defects before the petition can be formally cleared and scheduled for a hearing before the judges.