Raoz Avenue Court Issues Notice to Sonia Gandhi in 1980-81 Voter List Dispute
New Delhi: On Tuesday, a significant hearing took place at the Sessions Court located in Raoz Avenue, where a notice was issued to Congress leader Sonia Gandhi. This notice was issued during the hearing of a revision petition. The petition challenges an order in which a magistrate dismissed a complaint filed regarding Sonia Gandhi’s name being listed in the voter list for the 1980-81 election.
The Sessions Court will now conduct a fresh investigation into this entire dispute.
What Was Stated in the Revision Petition
During the hearing, senior advocate Pawan Narang, representing the petitioner Vikas Tripathi, presented several serious arguments before the court. He argued that this case isn’t merely a technical error but points to serious irregularities.
His argument was that how could Sonia Gandhi’s name be listed in the voter list during a period when she wasn’t an Indian citizen? He alleged that this process violated the rules and could have involved forgery or manipulation of documents.
Big Question Regarding the 1980 Voter List
Senior advocate Pawan Narang informed the court that Sonia Gandhi’s name was listed in the 1980-81 voter list. At that time, her citizenship process wasn’t complete. Subsequently, her name was removed, and then, in January 1983, it was re-included in the voter list based on an application filed.
Narang stated that both events – the initial listing and subsequent removal and re-listing – occurred before Sonia Gandhi obtained citizenship. Therefore, judicial scrutiny of these entries is necessary.
Violation of the Representation of the People Act
The advocate also argued that, according to the Representation of the People Act, only Indian citizens can be enrolled as voters. Listing someone’s name before they have acquired citizenship constitutes a direct violation of the law.
This is why this case has evolved beyond a simple complaint and requires a thorough investigation. The petitioner claims that the verified copies obtained from the Election Commission confirm their allegations.
Basis of the Original Complaint
Initially, the complaint was based on a news article highlighting irregularities in the 1980 voter list. However, the amendment has now obtained official document copies from the Election Commission and submitted them to the court.
What the Sessions Court Said
Sessions Judge Vishal Gogane, after hearing the initial arguments from both sides, stated that a detailed hearing is necessary on this matter. During the hearing, he issued notices to Sonia Gandhi and other respondents. The prosecutor representing the state acknowledged the notice, indicating that the case will proceed further in the legal process.
Trial Court Record Summoned
The judge also directed that the Trial Court Record (TCR) be summoned to ascertain the basis on which the magistrate decided to dismiss the complaint.
The case is now listed for hearing on January 6th. On that day, it will be determined whether the magistrate’s decision to dismiss the complaint in the initial stage was justified. The Sessions Court will also decide whether further investigation or prosecution is necessary in this case.
