The Supreme Court refused to entertain a petition filed by the Prashant Kishor led Jan Suraaj Party seeking to set aside the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections, firmly holding that the judiciary cannot be invoked to undo an electoral outcome after a party has been decisively rejected by voters.
The plea alleged widespread electoral misconduct by the Bihar government, including enrolment of millions of women beneficiaries and cash transfers of Rs.10,000 under a welfare scheme during the currency of the Model Code of Conduct, which the party claimed distorted the fairness of the electoral process.
Jan Suraaj, which contested nearly all assembly seats but failed to secure a single win, argued that the alleged misuse of state machinery amounted to corrupt practices and sought annulment of the entire election, along with action against the Election Commission under constitutional and statutory provisions.
A bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, with Justice Joymalya Bagchi, declined to examine the allegations, questioning both the timing and bona fides of the challenge. The Court bluntly remarked, “Once people reject you, you use the judicial forum to get relief,” underscoring that courts are not forums to rewrite electoral mandates.
While acknowledging that the broader issue of “freebies” may merit scrutiny in an appropriate case, the bench clarified that state specific grievances should first be raised before the jurisdictional High Court. In view of these observations, the petition was withdrawn.
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