HC dismisses Antas Khan's poll petition
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, July 22 2025: High Court of Manipur on.

Monday dismissed the election petition filed by Y Antas Khan challenging the election of Md Abdul Nasir, citing non-prosecution.

Justice Ahanthem Bimol Singh passed the order after observing repeated absence of the petitioner and his counsel in the court proceedings.

The matter pertains to Election Petition No 18 of 2022 filed by Antas Khan, which named Md Abdul Nasir and three others as respondents.

The court noted that the counsel representing the election petitioner had already withdrawn from the case by filing a determination application.

The application stated that the petitioner had failed to cooperate, leaving the counsel unable to continue with the case.

Accepting the grounds cited, the court had allowed the determination application.

Further submissions by the respondent's counsel pointed out that the petitioner or his legal representative had failed to appear before the court on multiple occasions.

In light of this continued absence and failure to take steps to proceed with the petition, senior counsel for the respondent no 1, Md Abdul Nasir moved an application seeking dismissal of the main election petition and connected applications for non-prosecution.

After hearing the arguments and reviewing the case records, Justice Bimol Singh noted that the petitioner had repeatedly failed to attend court or take action to advance the case.

Citing the Supreme Court's ruling in Dr P Nalla Thampy Thera vs BL Shanker and Others reported in 1984 (Supp) SCC 631, the court observed that an election petition can be dismissed for non-prosecution under provisions of Order IX or Order XVII of the Civil Procedure Code.

The court concluded that there was merit in the submissions made by the respondent's counsel and found no justification to keep the case pending.

As a result, the election petition and all related applications were dismissed for non-prosecution.

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