Overview
- A bench led by Chief Justice Shree Chandrashekhar dismissed a PIL alleging citywide, orchestrated rejection of BMC nominations, citing lack of locus standi and maintainability.
- In a separate order, the court quashed as “patently illegal” the returning officer’s rejection of BJP candidate Nilesh Chhaburao Bhojane’s nomination for NMMC Ward 17A.
- The court held that Section 10(1D) of the Maharashtra Municipal Corporations Act on disqualification for unauthorised construction applies to sitting councillors, not candidates at nomination stage.
- The stay on Ward 17A was vacated and the poll will proceed as scheduled, with directions to include Bhojane’s name and make necessary ballot or EVM adjustments.
- Other individual challenges fared poorly in lower courts, with an AIMIM candidate’s plea rejected for lack of jurisdiction to intervene before completion of the election process.