Shimla, Aug 14,
The Himachal Pradesh High Court has fixed strict timelines to commence the evidence stage in the election petition filed by Congress MP Abhishek Manu Singhvi against BJP MP Harsh Mahajan over the March 2023 Rajya Sabha polls.
Hearing Election Petition on Wednesday, Justice Bipin Chandra Negi recorded that certain contentions raised by Singhvi during earlier hearings on July 11 and August 6 were not pressed at this stage, and consequently, no submissions were made by the respondent on those points.
The Court noted that the admission and denial of documents between the parties remains incomplete. It directed that this process be concluded positively on August 26, 2025, with no unnecessary adjournments. Within 15 days thereafter, the respondent’s counsel must submit a list of witnesses along with the requisite process fee and diet money.
The matter will then be placed before the Additional Registrar (Judicial) on September 12, 2025 to fix dates for recording the evidence of the respondent’s witnesses. Justice Negi ordered that evidence be recorded expeditiously in accordance with Section 86(7) of the Representation of People Act, 1951, warning both parties against unwarranted delays.
The petition stems from the March 2023 Rajya Sabha elections in Himachal Pradesh, where both Singhvi and Mahajan polled 34 votes each. The Returning Officer declared Mahajan elected after a draw of lots, a process Singhvi has challenged, alleging incorrect application of statutory provisions.
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