Can't Make Lame Excuses: Top Court Pulls Up Poll Body Over Missing Footage

The Supreme Court rebuked the Election Commission of India (ECI) on Wednesday for its inability to locate the 2023 vote counting video in Sringeri Assembly constituency, Karnataka. The court made it clear that it would not tolerate "lame excuses" for the missing footage. A bench led by Justices Sanjay Kumar and Sanjeev Sachdeva expressed strong disapproval after hearing the ECI's counsel admit that the original counting records were untraceable.

The court instructed the Election Commission to submit all available records at the next hearing, threatening to draw an adverse inference if the documents were not produced. The bench questioned the ECI's assertion that it was merely trying to locate the records, emphasizing that conducting an election requires proper documentation.

The matter stems from a petition filed by Congress leader TD Rajegowda, who contested the revised election result for Sringeri. Initially declared the winner, Rajegowda later lost to BJP candidate Jeevaraj in the Karnataka High Court. After a recount, Jeevaraj was declared the winner. Rajegowda appealed to the Supreme Court to challenge the decision.

In May, the court granted interim relief to Rajegowda, allowing him to continue serving as the Member of the Legislative Assembly while his petition was pending. The court set the next hearing for February 15, 2027.