Patna: The Patna High Court has issued notices to 42 members of the Bihar legislative assembly in connection with petitions alleging electoral irregularities and misrepresentation in election affidavits.
The notices follow a series of election petitions filed by defeated candidates from various constituencies who have challenged the victories of the sitting MLAs. The petitioners have alleged irregularities in the voting process and inaccuracies in the affidavits submitted by the candidates at the time of nomination.
According to court sources, the petitions were admitted after preliminary hearings, prompting the high court to seek formal responses from the legislators concerned. The matter is currently pending, and the court will consider the MLAs’ replies at the next hearing.
Among those served notices are Bihar’s finance and energy minister Bijendra Yadav, former minister Jivesh Mishra, MLA Chetan Anand, and Amrendra Prasad of the Rashtriya Janata Dal, along with other legislators from both the ruling alliance and the opposition.
Legal experts say election petitions are a constitutional remedy available to candidates who wish to challenge results on grounds such as corrupt practices, procedural lapses or false declarations. The issuance of notices does not imply guilt but signals that the court has found sufficient grounds to seek clarification from the respondents.
