Supreme Court Seeks AAP MLA Vishesh Ravi's Response in Karol Bagh Election Plea
The Supreme Court on Monday sought the response of Aam Aadmi Party legislator Vishesh Ravi on a petition challenging his election from Delhi's Karol Bagh constituency in the 2020 Assembly polls over alleged discrepancies in his declared educational qualifications.
A bench comprising Justice BV Nagarathna and Justice R Mahadevan issued notice on a plea filed by Bharatiya Janata Party MP Yogender Chandolia, who lost to Ravi in the 2020 election. The top court agreed to examine a Delhi High Court order from April 24 that had dismissed Chandolia's election petition, ruling that it had become infructuous following the conclusion of the term and the holding of fresh Assembly elections in 2025, in which Ravi was re-elected from Karol Bagh.
During the hearing, the Supreme Court took note of Ravi's subsequent re-election. The bench observed that fresh elections had already taken place and that Ravi had succeeded in them. Justice Nagarathna also noted that there had been a period during which degrees issued by the Indira Gandhi National Open University were not recognized.
Senior advocate Arvind Kumar Gupta, appearing alongside advocate C Parkash for Chandolia, argued that the High Court failed to rule on an important question of law. The counsel raised the question of whether allegedly false information regarding a candidate's own educational qualifications in an election nomination form amounts to a corrupt practice under Section 123(4) of the Representation of the People Act. The bench was also informed that the court is currently hearing a similar matter concerning former Delhi minister Jitender Singh Tomar.
Chandolia, who lost the 2020 Karol Bagh contest by more than 67,000 votes, alleged persistent discrepancies in Ravi's affidavits across multiple election cycles. According to the petition, Ravi declared in 2013 that he held a B.Com degree, stated in his 2015 Form 26 that he was "pursuing BA Programme", and declared himself to be a Class 10 pass in the 2020 election.
The Delhi High Court had earlier rejected Chandolia's arguments, holding that Section 123(4) applies only to false statements made by a candidate about another candidate to influence their electoral prospects, rather than declarations regarding one's own qualifications. The High Court also held that because the 2020 assembly term had concluded and fresh polls were completed in 2025, the petition could no longer unseat or disqualify Ravi from the completed term.
