Supreme Court Permits Ex-Jharkhand CM Madhu Koda To Withdraw Plea Challenging His 3-Yr Disqualification By ECI In 2017

The Supreme Court today allowed former Jharkhand Chief Minister Madhu Koda to withdraw the plea challenging his 3-yr disqualification by the Election Commission of India in 2017.

A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan passed the order, upon hearing Koda's counsel, who submitted that the matter has become infructuous as the 3-yr period has lapsed.

To put briefly, Koda, an independent MLA, served as Jharkhand Chief Minister from 2006 to 2008. In 2017, he was disqualified by ECI for 3 years for not filling accurate poll expenses during 2009 Lok Sabha election.

Challenging the disqualification, he approached the Supreme Court in 2019. Notice was issued on the said plea in November, 2019. At the time, Koda prayed for permission to contest upcoming assembly polls, claiming that more than 2 years had passed since the disqualification order of ECI.

However, a bench headed by Justice NV Ramana refused to allow him to contest the assembly polls. "You yourself are responsible for the delay, we can't allow you to contest the election...We issue notice and [will] hear your plea on merits," it said.

Case Title: MADHU KODA Versus ELECTION COMMISSION OF INDIA, W.P.(C) No. 1340/2019