The Supreme Court has dismissed Congress leader Meenakshi Natarajan's petition challenging the rejection of her nomination for the Rajya Sabha elections in Madhya Pradesh. The court cited Article 329 of the Constitution, which bars the interference of courts in electoral matters.
A bench of justices PK Mishra and AS Chandurkar refused to make an exception for Natarajan, stating that an election petition is the only remedy in such cases.
Natarajan's nomination was rejected on a complaint by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Mahesh Kewat, who was declared elected unopposed after the Election Commission of India (ECI) declared the results.
Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, who appeared for Natarajan, argued that the returning officer's order was 'bizarre' and that the court has the power to interfere where there is a patent error.
The court, however, cited its previous decisions in election-related cases and said it has refused to invoke its writ jurisdiction in view of Article 329.
Natarajan's petition was dismissed, and the court's order rejecting the petition will not affect arguments Natarajan or anyone on her behalf makes when they file an election petition in the high court.
