Supreme Court withholds results of Bihar MLC bypoll

Lawyers at the Supreme Court complex, in New Delhi. File photo
| Photo Credit: PTI

The Supreme Court on Wednesday (January 15, 2025)  withheld the results of the byelection to fill a vacancy of Bihar Legislative Council, following the expulsion of Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Sunil Kumar Singh.

The bypoll was necessitated after the disqualification of Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MLC Sunil Kumar Singh last year in July. 

A Bench headed by Justice Surya Kant part-heard Mr. Singh’s challenge to his ouster. The court said it would hear the respondents on Thursday (January 16, 2025) and wrap up the case. The court, during a hearing at an earlier date, had orally expressed disapproval of the comments made by the lawmaker.

On July 26, 2024, the Ethics Committee of the Bihar Legislative Council expelled Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MLC Sunil Singh from the council on Friday for making ‘derogatory’ remarks against Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

The Janata Dal (United) leader Lalan Prasad was the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) candidate for the bypoll to the seat.