#Election Commission

The Delhi High Court quashed the ECI's mandate requiring Booth Level Agents to undertake verification of enumeration forms in Special Intensive Revision, holding that Section 31 RP Act confines BLA liability to photograph matching. The court deemed the blanket undertaking requirement arbitrary as the statutory duty to verify electoral rolls rests with Booth Level Officers, not party-appointed agents.

The Supreme Court ruled that the Election Commission may compel seizure reports within 24 hours, must complete investigations within a year, and cannot withdraw election-related prosecutions without High Court permission, tightening controls on black-money influence in elections. This binding directive applies to all future election cases across India, affecting political parties, candidates and enforcement agencies.

Madras High Court ruled that unrecognized political parties cannot claim a third common symbol without securing at least 1% of total votes polled in the state, reinforcing the Election Symbols Order's statutory threshold. The judgment clarifies that symbolic privileges are contingent on electoral performance, impacting smaller parties' visibility and campaigning rights.

Gauhati High Court dismisses PIL challenging village transfers between districts, holding that objections must be raised during delimitation consultation, not after notification.