Supreme Court directs the Election Commission to produce video records of the 2023 Sringeri vote count
17 October 2026
On 14 October 2026 the Supreme Court directed the Election Commission of India to produce video records of the counting of votes in the 2023 Sringeri Assembly election in Karnataka.
The bench of Justice Sanjay Kumar and Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva was hearing TD Rajegowda v. DN Jeevaraja & Ors., C.A. No. 7369/2026.
The Commission produced a sealed-cover video of the 2026 recount but no video of the original 2023 postal vote counting; its counsel said the footage could not be traced because the officers responsible had been transferred.
The bench observed that the Commission cannot act so irresponsibly and that such conduct does not inspire confidence.
The Karnataka High Court had ordered reverification of 279 rejected postal ballots in April 2026; the recount was held on 2 May 2026 and Jeevaraja was declared elected by a margin of 52 votes on 3 May 2026.
The appellant argued that the Returning Officer also recounted 562 already valid postal ballots, going beyond the High Court's order; the Supreme Court had earlier kept all steps from the recount in abeyance.
In plain words
Returning Officer Returning Officer — The officer responsible for conducting an election in a constituency and declaring its result.