The Central Government on Thursday informed the Supreme Court that the state governments cannot use writ jurisdiction to challenge the work done by the President or a governor belonging to the bills passed by the state assemblies, even if such action allegedly violates fundamental rights.

Representing the Center, during the hearing before the five-judge Constitution Bench, led by Chief Justice Bra Gavai, Solicitor-General Tushar Mehta, the President demanded the opinion of the apex court whether the state could file a writ petition under Article 32 of the Constitution based on violation of fundamental rights.

He further stated that the President wants to understand the interpretation of Article 361, which gives the President and the governors immunity to be responsible for the courts to perform their official duties.

Addressing the bench – also included as Justice Surya Kant, Vikram Nath, PS Narasimha and Chandurkar – Mehta said that although these issues were considered during internal discussions, the President gives a certain verdict from the court, especially when similar questions can be revealed in future.

Mehta said that a Article 32 petition cannot be made against the functions of the state president or governors, stating that no direction cannot be issued to these constitutional authorities.

“Article 32 lies when the constitutional plan leads to fundamental rights and state government violations, it is not a fundamental right in itself. It is a store of tasks to protect the fundamental rights of its people,” said Mehta.

In another curious turn for the head (special intensive amendment) of the electoral rolls being held in Bihar, the Election Commission has denied any knowledge of a ‘independent assessment committee’ – which he claimed in his affidavit that he has actually triggered the practice!

So, is the commission lying now, or is it a lie in the Supreme Court – that’s the question.

Transparency activist Anjali Bhardwaj and RTI application filed by media outlets Correspondent Following the following response from ECI: The Commission claimed that it had no information about the Independent Assessment Committee and that no files, meetings or file noting were available to show the noting. How The decision to operate a nationwide SIR was started, discussion, final and approved, or When?,

When asked for a copy of orders or guidelines related to the 2003 rolls in Bihar, the ECI instead provided 2025 guidelines and notifications.

Nitin Sethi, a trustee of the collective trust of reporters, noted that a constitutional body directed about 80 million voters in Bihar to produce documents to establish their citizenship and voting rights within 30 days, it refuses to share their records with people.

Transparency activist Anjali Bhardwaj says that similar records, files and notes were asked in the election bond case – and both Finance Department and State Bank of India had forced. Why, then the ECI will refuse to share the details and what it is trying to hide, he asked.

The Supreme Court announced on Friday, August 29, that it will hear petitions filed by RJD (Rashtriya Janata Dal) and AIMIM (All India Majlis-e-Idena-ul-Musslimin), who seek more time for voters, blessing for assembly elections at the end of this year.

For example, the hearing date matches the current deadline to enter such claims and objections – 1 September.

Justice Surya Kant, Jomalya Bagchi and Vipul M. A bench with Pancholi confirmed that the hearing would be held on Monday (1 September). The court was decided after Advocate Prashant Bhushan and senior advocate Shoaib Alam, who representing RJD, informed the bench that several applications were requested to expand the deadline.

Nizam Pasha, representing AIMIM, supported more time requirement due to the large number of claims being filed.

“The number of claims filed is increasing rapidly. The deadline needs to be extended,” Alam told the court.

Pasha said that about 80,000 claims were filed before the court’s 22 August order. The number increased to 95,000 after the order.

“We are requesting to listed these applications as soon as possible,” said Pasha.