Will Decide Congress MP Randeep Surjewala's Plea For Electoral Rolls Of Maharashtra, Haryana Within Three Months: ECI To Delhi High Court

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday disposed of a plea filed by Congress MP Randeep Singh Surjewala seeking a direction on the Election Commission of India (ECI) to decide his representation seeking supply of the electoral rolls for the Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha polls conducted in the States of Maharashtra and Haryana from 2009 to 2024.

Justice Jyoti Singh took on record submission of ECI's counsel that Surjewala's representation dated December 27 will be decided expeditiously, in accordance with law and not later than three months.

Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi appeared for Surjewala and submitted that yesterday, a letter was given ECI that the representation will be decided by a reasoned order. However, he added, that no time limit was prescribed in the same.

On Court's query to specify the time limit within which the representation would be decided, the ECI's counsel said that a decision will be taken as expeditiously as possible.

Opposing the submission, Singhvi said: “The only reason I mentioned this was because it's taken them two months to reply to say that now we will reply. In two months time they have said that we will now take time further to reply. If that is their understanding of time limits as expeditiously as possible, then it might be like Alice in Wonderland's time limits.”

ECI counsel, on instructions, submitted that considering that the details have been sought since year 2009, it will not be logistically possible to take a decision on the representation immediately. However, he said that three months time limited be granted as outer limit to decide the same.

Without entering into the merits of the case, the Court disposed of the plea taking on record the counsel's submission.

“The petition is disposed of taking the stand of ECI on record that the representation will be decided as expeditiously as possible and not later than three months from today,” the Court said.

It granted liberty to Surjewala to take recourse available in law in respect of all the issues raised in the plea.

Title: Randeep Singh Surjewala v. ECI 

Citation: 2025 LiveLaw (Del) 229