Full Breakdown
Supreme Court Rebukes Election Commission Over Missing Sringeri Vote-Counting Video and Disputed Recount
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
The Supreme Court of India, hearing a petition by Congress candidate T.D. Rajegowda, reprimanded the Election Commission of India (ECI) for being unable to locate the video recording of the 2023 vote-counting in Karnataka’s Sringeri Assembly constituency. The bench warned that “otherwise, we will have to draw an adverse inference against you” and ordered the commission to produce any available records at the next hearing scheduled for February 15, 2027.
Background & Context
- 2023 Karnataka Assembly election – Rajegowda (Congress) was declared the winner in Sringeri by a margin of 201 votes over BJP candidate D.N. Jeevaraj.
- High Court recount order – On April 6, 2026, the Karnataka High Court directed a recount of postal ballots, including the re-verification of 279 rejected ballots.
- Recount outcome – Completed in early May, the recount reduced Rajegowda’s tally by 255 votes and added 2 votes to Jeevaraj, giving the BJP a 52-vote lead. The revised result was announced on May 3, 2026.
- Supreme Court interim relief – On May 11, 2026, the Supreme Court stayed the effect of the recount and allowed Rajegowda to continue as MLA pending a final decision.
Data & Statistics
| Item | Figure |
|---|---|
| Original margin (2023) | 201 votes |
| Re-verified rejected ballots | 279 |
| Additional ballots examined | 1,251 |
| Votes deducted from Rajegowda | 255 |
| Votes added to Jeevaraj | 2 |
| Revised margin (2026) | 52 votes (BJP) |
| Next hearing | February 15, 2027 |
Official Statements & Responses
- ECI’s position: Senior counsel S. Seshadri Naidu, representing the commission, submitted an affidavit stating the original counting video “could not be traced” and may have been overwritten after two years. The court found this unsatisfactory.
- Interim order: The Supreme Court directed the ECI to produce any surviving election-observer reports, video recordings of both the original count and the recount, and related CCTV footage at the next hearing.
Criticism & Opposition
- Petitioner’s claim: Rajegowda argues the returning officer exceeded the high-court’s directions by re-examining 1,251 postal ballots already declared valid, altering the result beyond the scope of the court-ordered recount.
- Legal implication: The court noted the returning officer’s actions appear “prima facie without legal foundation,” prompting the adverse-inference warning.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Number of re-verified ballots: Sources differ on the total count of postal ballots examined. The high court specified 279 rejected ballots, while the Supreme Court later referenced 1,251 additional ballots. The discrepancy remains unreconciled.
- Status of the original video: The ECI asserts the 2023 counting video is “untraceable,” yet its own guidelines require preservation of counting footage until all election petitions are resolved. The court’s demand highlights a gap between procedural requirements and record-keeping.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Otherwise, we will have to draw an adverse inference against you.” — the court
The Supreme Court’s rebuke underscores the importance of transparent record-keeping in India’s electoral process and places the ECI under pressure to substantiate its handling of the Sringeri recount. The outcome of the February 2027 hearing will determine whether the commission’s explanations satisfy the court’s demand for accountability.
