Raipur
The Kolkata High Court, headed by Chief Justice T.S. Sivagnanam, expressed complete satisfaction with the procedures adopted by the Election Commission of India (ECI) for nomination and citizenship verification, during a hearing on a public interest litigation.
The case, WPA(P)/85/2025 – Manik Fakir alias Manik Mondal vs Union of India and Others, involved the petitioner’s allegations that full citizenship verification should be mandatory for elected representatives and that the Election Commission was not adequately conducting this process. Concerns were also raised about the possibility of foreign nationals illegally acquiring Indian citizenship and participating in the upcoming 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections.
The Chief Justice clarified that the Election Commission’s procedures are initiated once elections are notified and candidates file their nominations, and that the existing procedures include sufficient checks and balances. He stated that appropriate action is taken if a complete complaint is received, and any citizen can file an objection regarding a candidate’s nomination’s validity.
The court stated that implementing a new process would require legislative action, which falls outside the court’s jurisdiction under Article 226. Ultimately, the court disposed of the petition, affirming the validity and satisfactory nature of the Election Commission’s procedures.
