Bombay High Court Deliberates on Asiatic Society Election Controversy
HC reserves order on Asiatic Society polls
Hindustan Times
Image: Hindustan Times
The Bombay High Court has reserved its order on a petition challenging the charity commissioner's stay on elections for the Asiatic Society of Mumbai. The stay, issued due to alleged irregularities in the voters' lists, has been contested by presidential candidate Kumar Ketkar and others, raising concerns over the fairness of the election process.
- 01The Bombay High Court is reviewing a petition against the charity commissioner's order to stay elections for the Asiatic Society of Mumbai.
- 02The charity commissioner cited irregularities in the voters' lists as the reason for the stay.
- 03Over 1,400 new members were enrolled, raising concerns about their eligibility to vote.
- 04Justice Farhan Dubash indicated a preference for an October 3, 2025 cut-off date for voter eligibility.
- 05The lack of prior notice before the charity commissioner's order has been a significant point of contention.
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The Bombay High Court has reserved its decision regarding a petition that challenges the charity commissioner's order to stay elections for the Asiatic Society of Mumbai, initially set for March 14. The charity commissioner halted the elections due to alleged 'irregularities in the voters’ lists' and mandated the formation of a committee to create a new list of eligible voters. Senior journalist Kumar Ketkar, a presidential candidate, along with others, contested this decision, arguing that the charity commissioner did not provide an opportunity for the society's members to be heard before issuing the stay. The court, during a hearing on April 11, noted that the charity commissioner's order was made without prior notice, which raised questions about the fairness of the process. The advocate general defended the stay, emphasizing that only members approved by the previous cut-off date of October 3, 2025, should be allowed to vote, effectively excluding over 1,400 newly enrolled members from participating in the elections.
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The outcome of this case could significantly affect the governance of the Asiatic Society of Mumbai and the representation of its members in future elections.
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