Patna High Court Issues Notices to 42 Bihar MLAs in Election Irregularity Cases
The Patna High Court has taken significant action by issuing formal notices to 42 members of the Bihar Legislative Assembly. This move comes in response to a series of election petitions that allege various electoral irregularities and discrepancies in the election affidavits submitted by these sitting legislators.
Background of the Election Petitions
The notices are a direct result of election petitions filed by defeated candidates from multiple constituencies across Bihar. These petitioners have formally challenged the electoral victories of the current MLAs, raising concerns about the integrity of the election process. The petitions were filed separately between December 5, 2025, and January 8, 2026, marking a concentrated period of legal challenges following the 2025 assembly elections.
Judicial Proceedings and Bench Assignments
Two separate single-judge benches of the Patna High Court are presiding over these cases. Justice S.B. Pd Singh and Justice Ashok Kumar Pandey are collectively hearing a total of 45 election petitions. However, it is important to note that notices have not been issued in three specific petitions at this time. These include petitions filed against BJP veteran Prem Kumar, who currently serves as the Speaker of the Bihar Legislative Assembly, and another against Nitish Mishra, the BJP legislator representing the Jhanjharpur seat in Madhubani district.
Notable Cases and Legal Representation
The first petition related to the 2025 assembly elections was filed by Manish Yadav on December 5, 2025, targeting Devyanti Devi, the BJP legislator from Narpatganj constituency in Araria district. In another prominent case, Chetan Anand, the JD(U) candidate from Nabinagar constituency, has been issued a notice based on a petition filed by Amod Kumar Singh, who lost the election by a narrow margin of only 112 votes.
Additionally, Ranvijay Kumar Singh has challenged the election of RJD MLA Amrendra Kumar, also known as Amrendra Kushwaha, from the Goh assembly seat. Both of these cases are being argued by renowned election law expert Ravi Ranjan, highlighting the legal complexity and significance of these proceedings.
Further Challenges and Close Contests
The election of Sandeep Saurav, the CPI(ML) legislator from Paliganj seat, has been challenged by petitioner Anand Kumar. In another closely contested case, Sangita Devi of LJP(RV), who emerged victorious from Balrampur constituency in Katihar district, has received a High Court notice. This notice was issued on the petition of Adil Hasan of AIMIM, who lost the election by a mere 369 votes, underscoring the tight margins involved in these disputes.
Logistical Challenges and Court Orders
Among the 42 notices served to sitting legislators, one sent to Ghosi MLA Rituraj Kumar of JD(U) was returned undelivered with a postal remark stating "door locked." In response, the High Court has ordered the election petitioner, Rakesh Kumar Singh, to have the same notice published in two newspapers with circulation in Bihar, including The Times of India. This step ensures that the legal process continues despite initial delivery issues.
Role of the Election Commission
In all these election petitions, the Election Commission of India has been named as a common defendant. The Commission is being represented by its counsel, Siddharth Prasad, indicating its involvement in the legal scrutiny of these electoral matters. This inclusion emphasizes the broader implications of these cases for electoral governance and compliance.
The issuance of these notices by the Patna High Court marks a critical phase in addressing allegations of electoral irregularities in Bihar. As the legal proceedings advance, they are poised to have significant repercussions on the political landscape and electoral accountability in the state.
