Supreme Court Slaps ₹2 Lakh for Allowing Nominations Despite Multiple Voter Registrations

The Supreme Court has imposed ₹2 lakh costs on the Uttarakhand State Election Commission (SEC) for issuing a clarification that sought to allow a candidate’s nomination even if their name appeared in multiple electoral rolls.

The High Court had earlier stayed that clarification, holding it to be in conflict with Sections 9(6) and 9(7) of the Uttarakhand Panchayati Raj Act, 2016, which prohibit registration of a person in more than one territorial constituency.

A Bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta dismissed the SEC’s appeal against the High Court stay, questioning how the poll body could issue a clarification contrary to the express statutory provisions.