SC Adjourns Plea for Release of Voter Turnout Data Till After Lok Sabha Election

GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 24th May. In a pivotal decision, the Supreme Court on Friday adjourned the hearing on pleas seeking the release of voter turnout data until after the conclusion of the ongoing Lok Sabha election. The pleas, which called for the disclosure of votes polled and rejected within 48 hours of polling closure at each booth, were put on hold by a vacation bench of the court.

The bench expressed concerns that an immediate ruling could disrupt the electoral process by burdening the Election Commission, especially considering that five out of seven voting phases had already been completed. Justices S Narasimha and Sanjay Karol highlighted the similarity between the current plea and a previous one from 2019, emphasizing the need for a holistic approach to such matters.

The Association for Democratic Reforms, the petitioner in this case, faced questioning from the court regarding the timing and nature of their appeal. Justice Datta firmly stated, “In-between an election, hands off! We cannot interrupt the electoral process.”

During the hearing, senior advocate Maninder Singh, representing the Election Commission, denounced the petition as an attempt to undermine the integrity of the election. Opposition leaders’ concerns over discrepancies in voter data were dismissed by Singh, who asserted that such variations were minimal.

Meanwhile, senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, representing one of the petitioners, argued for the seriousness of the issue at hand, advocating for the court’s intervention.

The crux of the matter lies in the swift release of data from Form 17C and Form 17C (Part II), which play a crucial role in ensuring the transparency and accuracy of the electoral process. The court’s decision to defer the hearing underscores the need for a balanced approach, considering the complexities of the ongoing election.