'Politically motivated', Sonia Gandhi opposes plea over 1980 voter list entry in Delhi court
New Delhi (PTI): The counsel for Congress leader Sonia Gandhi on Saturday claimed before a Delhi court that a complaint alleging that she was included in the electoral roll three years before acquiring Indian citizenship in 1983 was politically motivated and filed for an extraneous reason.
The reply was submitted before Special Judge Vishal Gogne, who is hearing a revision plea challenging a September 11, 2025, magistrate's order refusing to probe the allegation.
After the response was filed, the court posted the matter for further proceedings on February 21.
The magisterial court's order had dismissed the complaint filed by advocate Vikas Tripathi, vice president of the Central Delhi Court Bar Association of the Rouse Avenue courts.
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On Saturday, advocates Tarannum Cheema, Kanishka Singh and Akash Singh, Gandhi's counsels, filed her response, which claimed the allegations were "wholly misconceived, frivolous, politically motivated, and an abuse of the process of law”.
Seeking dismissal of the plea, they said the magisterial court rightly observed that matters of citizenship were exclusively under the Central government's domain, while an electoral roll dispute was the sole prerogative of the Election Commission.
"Criminal courts cannot usurp these functions by entertaining private complaints disguised under IPC/BNS sections. This is barred by the doctrine of separation of powers and would violate Article 329 of the Constitution, which prohibits judicial interference in the electoral process," the reply said.
It added that the complaint had been filed for an extraneous reason, terming it politically motivated, and that a controversy raised over 25 years back was being “recycled”.
The reply also said the complaint did not provide any foundational documents.
"It is claimed that the answering respondent's (Sonia Gandhi's) application/request in 1980 led to the inclusion of her name in the electoral roll. However, there is no mention about the date, oath particulars, or contents of the application.
"No copy of such application has been attached with the complaint. Even a bald claim has not been made that the complainant applied for a copy of the called application/request," the reply said.
It added, "The complainant seeks an investigation into the imaginary and motivated allegations without making any essential factual averments."
The reply also said that it was misleading to presume that a person's name is included in the roll because she had applied for such inclusion by way of submission of Form 6.
"It is further added here that it shall be impossible for any person to search and place on record reliable evidentiary material after a passage of more than 40 years. It is well settled that such extremely stale allegations ought not to be entertained, as such malicious prosecution is violative of the letter and spirit of Article 21 (protection of life and personal liberty) of the Constitution," the response contended.
The September 2025 court order had said that the complaint was "fashioned with the object of clothing the court with jurisdiction through allegations which are legally untenable, deficient in substance, and beyond the scope of this forum's authority".
Tripathi's counsel, senior advocate Pavan Narang, had alleged before the magisterial court that in January 1980, Sonia Gandhi's name was added as a voter of the New Delhi constituency when she was not an Indian citizen.
He had claimed "some forgery" and a public authority being "cheated".
The magistrate, however, dismissed the plea seeking a probe by holding that the complainant sought to set the criminal law in motion by persuading the court to assume jurisdiction, which did not vest in it legally.
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UP govt sacks five doctors, orders action against 16 health officials for negligence
Lucknow (PTI): Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister and Health Minister Brajesh Pathak on Friday ordered strict action against several health officials, including the dismissal of five doctors from service, over alleged negligence, dereliction of duty and irregularities in the health department.
According to an official statement issued by his office, five medical officers were dismissed for remaining absent from duty for a prolonged period without information and for staying away from medical work.
Those dismissed include Dr Alaknanda of the district hospital in Gorakhpur, Dr Ramji Bhardwaj posted under the Kushinagar Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Dr Saurabh Singh posted under the Balrampur CMO, Dr Viklesh Kumar Sharma of CHC Jagdishpur in Amethi and Dr Monica Verma of CHC Dibiyapur in Auraiya, it stated.
The government also ordered departmental disciplinary proceedings against 16 medical officers, including Ambedkar Nagar CMO Dr Sanjay Kumar Shaival and Deputy CMO Dr Sanjay Verma, over alleged irregularities in the registration and renewal process of private hospitals, nursing homes and ultrasound centres, it added.
According to the statement, "the two officers were found guilty of deliberately violating government norms, misusing their positions and showing negligence in clearing files for personal interests."
"A preliminary inquiry conducted by a three-member committee, including an Additional District Magistrate, reportedly confirmed several complaints against them, following which Pathak ordered strict action."
Departmental proceedings were also ordered against Hardoi Medical Superintendent Dr Manoj Kumar Singh for allegedly failing to act against unauthorised private hospitals operating in the district and neglecting official responsibilities.
The health department has also sought an explanation from the Hardoi CMO over assigning senior-level responsibilities to a junior doctor despite the availability of senior officers in the district.
The statement said action has also been initiated against several doctors in separate cases related to alleged negligence in treatment, administrative lapses, improper medico-legal examinations and misconduct with colleagues.
Among them are Dr Shameem Akhtar of Prayagraj, doctors and a pharmacist posted at CHC Lambhua in Sultanpur, and two doctors at the district hospital in Mathura accused of negligence in preparing medico-legal reports in an assault case.
Departmental proceedings were also ordered against doctors posted in Balrampur, Varanasi, Badaun, Lakhimpur Kheri, Sambhal and other districts for alleged negligence in medical duties.
In another case, Dr Rituj Agrawal, an associate professor in the orthopaedics department of the government medical college in Badaun, faces disciplinary action over allegations of abusing and misbehaving with a woman doctor and another colleague.
Two doctors -- Dr Pratibha Yadav of Bahraich and Dr Rakesh Singh of Mathura -- have been awarded censure punishment in separate negligence-related cases.
The statement further said the deputation of Dr Aditya Pandey, who was posted with the State Health Agency under the cashless treatment scheme for government employees, has been terminated with immediate effect over alleged misconduct and inappropriate behaviour with a colleague.
He has been sent back to his original posting in Raebareli and departmental action has also been ordered, it added.
The government has also ordered withholding of salary increments in several cases. Dr Lalmani, a gynaecologist currently posted in Hamirpur, has been penalised with permanent stoppage of three increments and censure punishment over allegations of extortion from patients and misbehaviour during an earlier posting in Azamgarh.
Four increments of Dr Santosh Singh of Balrampur and two increments of Dr Nisha Bundela of Jhansi have also been withheld.
Action has also been directed against Dr Pawan Sahu, an orthopaedic surgeon at the trauma centre in Moth, Jhansi, after allegations of private practice against him were found to be true, the statement added.
