Delhi High Court dismisses plea challenging election of Meenakshi Lekhi in 2019 Lok Sabha polls

The Delhi High Court has dismissed a plea challenging the election of Union Minister of State for External Affairs and Culture Meenakshi Lekhi from the New Delhi constituency in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls over alleged discrepancies in poll expenditure [Ramesh v. Meenakshi Lekhi].Justice Sanjeev Narula said that the election petition was fundamentally lacking in "material facts”."Sans any underpinning material, the petitioner’s broad averments are insufficient to sustain the allegations of electoral corrupt practices,” the judgment stated..The petitioner had contested against Lekhi as an independent candidate from the New Delhi constituency in the 2019 general elections.He alleged discrepancies in her poll expenditure and accused her of having engaged in corrupt electoral practices. One of the allegations was that she had crossed the Election Commission of India’s stipulated ceiling of ₹70 lakh in campaign-related expenses by reportedly organising a large-scale event and spending over ₹1 crore.In Lekhi’s defense, it was argued that the accusations were broad, imprecise and lacked substantial evidence or documentation supporting claims of corrupt election practices. It was contended that the petitioner's affidavit accompanying the petition was not in compliance with the Representation of People Act and Conduct of Election Rules, 1961..The High Court observed that though the petitioner had accused Lekhi of exceeding the permissible election expenditure limit, the basis of the claim remained vague. “Throughout the petition, the central contention seems to be that respondent understated the expenses related to election activities in the official register. However, there is a conspicuous absence of specific details highlighting the discrepancies between the declared amounts and the alleged actual expenditures. Petitioner’s claims appear to be predicated on conjectures and assumptions rather than on solid evidence,” it noted.Justice Narula also said tat the affidavit accompanying the petition deviates from the prescribed format, and given the quasi-criminal nature of allegations concerning electoral malpractices, it is paramount that these assertions were treated with the gravity they deserve.“The petition being bereft of a cause of action, is dismissed under Order VII Rule 11 of the CPC,” the Court held..Advocates Harish Pandey and Anshuman Tiwari represented Lekhi.The petitioner, Ramesh, appeared in person..[Read Judgment]