SC asks ECI to reply on plea for common electoral rolls

The Supreme Court asked the Election Commission to file a reply within two weeks on a plea seeking direction for common electoral rolls for Parliament, Assembly and local body polls to save public money and manpower. The apex court sought the response of the Centre and Election Commission on the plea, filed by Delhi BJP leader Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay.

SC to hear PIL on poll reforms

The Supreme Court listed for final hearing on March 19 the PIL seeking barring candidates from contesting elections from two seats and discouraging independents from jumping into electoral fray. The petition, filed by Delhi BJP spokesperson and advocate Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay, has sought declaring as invalid and ultra-virus section 33(7) of the Representation of the People (RP) Act which allows a person to contest a general election or a group of by-elections or biennial elections from two constituencies.

Anticipatory bail provision: SC slams UP

The Supreme Court pulled up the Uttar Pradesh government for not taking a clear stand on the issue of restoration of provision for anticipatory bail in the state that was scrapped in 1976. The apex court was hearing a petition filed by a lawyer seeking restoration of the provision of anticipatory bail in Uttar Pradesh as its absence is “discriminatory” to the people of the state.

PIL in SC on two-child norm

A PIL was filed in the Supreme Court seeking a directive to the Centre to ensure that that the two-children norm is strictly adhered to by couples and non-observance results in denial of facilities to them. The plea, which is likely to be listed for hearing during the week, alleged that the increase in population was imposing an increasing burden on the limited natural resources of the country and causing continuous degradation.