The Delhi High Court has dismissed petitions seeking the release of video recordings from the election process in Fatehpur Sikri and Aligarh Lok Sabha constituencies in Uttar Pradesh.
A single bench of Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav ruled that the mere presence of the Election Commission of India (ECI) office in Delhi did not warrant the high court’s involvement in the matter, as all “integral and essential facts” were situated outside its jurisdiction.
Petitioners Bijendra Singh and Ramnath Singh, who challenged the 2024 elections from Aligarh and Fatehpur Sikri respectively, sought the video footage, claiming they observed “certain irregularities” during the counting process.
“It is not disputed that the petitioners seek to obtain videography related to the parliamentary election in Fatehpur Sikri and Aligarh, which occurred in Uttar Pradesh. The election, video recording, and the petitioners all pertain to Uttar Pradesh. The application for a copy of the video recording was made to the returning officer in Uttar Pradesh,” the court stated.
“While the office of the ECI is within the territorial jurisdiction of this court, and at least part of the cause of action is said to have arisen here, this alone does not justify invoking jurisdiction under Article 226 and entertaining a writ petition when a substantial part of the cause of action has occurred outside the high court’s limits. Therefore, the writ petition is dismissed,” the judge said.
The court advised the petitioners to seek appropriate remedies from the competent court.
Representing the petitioners, lawyer Mehmood Pracha argued that the petitions were maintainable due to the involvement of the ECI, whose office is in Delhi, in accordance with its rules.
Appearing for the ECI, Advocate Sidhant Kumar, countered that the petitions were not maintainable in this high court as the elections, recording, and returning officer were all based in Uttar Pradesh.
