Madras HC Rejects PIL Based On Allegations By Rahul Gandhi; Imposes Penalty On Petitioner

Madras High Court

The Madras High Court has dismissed a Public Interest Litigation that sought directions to the Election Commission of India to clarify allegations of large-scale manipulation in the 2024 General Elections.

The court termed the petition as “completely misconceived,” noting that it lacked credible evidence and was based purely on political claims without material backing.

Court Cites Lack Of Evidence

The bench observed that the plea was vague, devoid of specific facts, and could not serve as a valid reason to compel the Election Commission to respond. “The petition is completely misconceived,” the court stated, emphasizing that allegations founded on political rhetoric and speculation could not be treated as grounds for judicial intervention.

The court further clarified that it was not expressing any opinion on the merit or truthfulness of the allegations. The Election Commission remains free to take appropriate action as it deems fit.

Penalty Imposed

In addition to dismissing the petition, the court imposed costs of ₹1,00,000 on the petitioner, directing that the amount be paid to the Tamil Nadu State Legal Services Authority. The court’s decision reinforces the judiciary’s unwillingness to entertain petitions that rely more on political narratives than verifiable facts.

The controversy began after Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi raised concerns regarding electoral irregularities during a press conference on August 7. Gandhi alleged that the 2024 Lok Sabha elections had been “choreographed” to favor the ruling BJP, claiming that anti-incumbency appeared ineffective.

He supported his claims by presenting data on the Mahadevapura Assembly in Karnataka, alleging a “vote chori” or vote theft of 1,00,250 votes.

The Election Commission dismissed Gandhi’s claims as baseless, stating that the opposition leader was attempting to sensationalize the issue instead of pursuing legitimate legal remedies. The poll body accused him of repeating a “tired script” and asked him to either sign declarations from the Chief Electoral Officers of Maharashtra and Karnataka or apologize for what it termed “absurd” allegations.