Overview

• A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta dismissed the State Election Commission’s challenge to the Uttarakhand High Court order.
• The High Court had stayed the clarification that told officials not to reject nominations solely because a candidate’s name appears on more than one electoral roll and directed that it not be acted upon.
• The Supreme Court imposed a cost of Rs 2 lakh on the SEC, with Justice Nath asking, “How can you decide contrary to the statutory provision?”
• The High Court found the SEC’s guidance prima facie contrary to Section 9(6) and 9(7) of the Uttarakhand Panchayati Raj Act, which bar registration in more than one constituency or roll.
• The case, STATE ELECTION COMMISSION v. Shakti Singh Bharthwal (Diary No. 41232-2025), leaves the High Court’s stay operative for the panchayat election process.