Supreme court stays Bombay HC order directing EC to hold Pune Lok Sabha bypoll immediately

New Delhi: Observing that it will lay down guidelines on conducting bypolls, SC on Monday stayed the Bombay High Court order, asking the Election Commission to immediately hold the bypoll for the Pune Lok Sabha seat. The seat is vacant since March 29, 2023, after the death of MP Girish Bapat.

The high court had rapped the poll panel for not holding byelection for the seat for such a long period despite the law mandating conducting polls expeditiously. The SC bench led by the Chief Justice of India said that it will "lay down the law in March or April".

The court also took note of EC submission that the tenure of the present Lok Sabha is ending on June 16 and holding byelection will not serve the purpose.


(With PTI inputs)