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The Delhi High Court is scheduled to hear on December 23 a plea seeking regulatory oversight of internal elections in political parties.

The Division Bench of Chief Justice DN Patel and Justice Jyoti Singh had issued notice to the Election Commission of India (ECI) on the matter in October and asked the ECI to file its counter affidavit in the matter.

The petition filed by Advocate C. Rajashekaran argues that internal elections of most parties are "an eyewash" for political families to continue to "retain power as the top leadership”.

Further, the petition has said that most political parties in India have a “feudal and oligarchic nature of functioning”. It also states that there is a lack of regulatory oversight over their internal elections.

The plea states that "aggrieved by the demonstrably feudal and oligarchic nature of functioning of most political parties in India, on account of ineffective democratic processes within the said political parties", the petitioner had filed a petition before the Delhi High Court earlier as well, however the matter was disposed of vide order dated January 12 by directing the Election Commission of India to decide the legal notice dated November 24, 2020 in accordance with law, rules, regulations and government policies applicable to the facts of the case.

However, the ECI vide letter dated June 16, 2021 had replied to the legal notice stating that no specific action is required for the said representation.

Cause Title: C. Rajashekaran vs Election Commission of India