Supreme Court Dismisses Plea to Postpone Bihar By-Elections

The Supreme Court rejected Jan Suraaj Party's request to delay the Bihar by-elections scheduled for November 13. The court, led by Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan, emphasized electoral policies and noted the readiness for the elections despite concerns over the Chhath Puja festival's proximity.

The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed a petition by Prashant Kishor's Jan Suraaj Party aimed at postponing the Bihar by-elections set for November 13. Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan concluded that it was too late to intervene in the pre-established schedule.

The bench classified the request as a policy issue, pointing out that courts should refrain from meddling in such matters. It emphasized that all preparations had been completed for the by-elections. The justices noted, 'Other political parties do not have a problem. Only you have a problem. You are a new political party, you need to know these zig-zags.'

Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, representing the petitioner, argued there was no festival as significant as Chhath Puja in Bihar. He highlighted that election dates in states like Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, and Kerala were moved by the Election Commission due to religious events, unlike Bihar's elections. By-elections will occur in Ramgarh, Tarari, Belaganj, and Imamganj assembly seats on November 13.

(With inputs from agencies.)