PIL seeking Election Commission officials to supervise internal polls, dismissed by court

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday dismissed a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking directions to the Election Commission of India (ECI) to conduct and supervise the internal polls of regional and national political parties. The petition, filed by Arvind Kumar through his counsel Setu Sharma, alleged that a few families are dominating the political scenario of the country and is, in turn, thwarting the basic mandate of the Constitution.

The plea mentions the names of some political parties like Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Samajwadi Party, Biju Janata Dal (BJD), Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD). It had further sought the court’s action on the inaction of the authorities to formulate legislation to regulate the process of holding intra-party elections to democratize the structure of political parties in India, which have become a fiefdom of a few families.

The plea also sought the court’s direction to the respondents to ensure that no member of the family initiate action to the effect that no person and family should be allowed to behold the main position in the party by any name for more than five years. It also requested the court to direct the EC to supervise and manage the internal election of parties and direct the Centre to act in line with the Law Commission of India and the National Commission for Review of Working of the Constitution. 

(With inputs from agencies.)