Supreme Court orders trial to proceed in election petition against Bhupesh Baghel

The Supreme Court of India has dismissed a plea seeking a preliminary ruling on the issue of limitation in an election petition filed against former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel. The petition, filed by BJP leader Vijay Baghel regarding the 2023 election from the Patan assembly constituency, will now proceed to trial.

A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi, and Justice V. Mohana rejected the attempt to frame the objection as a preliminary issue. The justices observed that the matter involved mixed questions of fact and law and noted that the objection could have been pleaded earlier.

The Court expressed displeasure regarding potential delays, with the justices emphasizing that election cases require time-bound disposal. The bench declined to interfere with a High Court order and did not express any view on the merits of the underlying election petition.