Petition dismissed
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, November 05 2025: A single bench of the Manipur High Court has ruled that the election petition filed by Soibam Subhaschandra against sitting BJP MLA Sagolshem Kebi of the Naoriya Pakhanglakpa Assembly Constituency is not maintainable and has dismissed it for lack of merit.

The judgment was passed today by Justice Ahanthem Bimol, after the order had been reserved following the final hearing of the election petition on May 5, 2025 .

The election petition was filed in 2022 by former MLA Soibam Subhaschandra against Sagolshem Kebi, the sitting MLA of Naoriya Pakhanglakpa Assembly Constituency, shortly after the declaration of the 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly election results.

The election petition alleged numerous errors in the affidavit submitted by MLA Sagolshem Kebi, including the furnishing of incorrect information and false statements regarding her age, educational qualifications, highest educational qualification, and failure to disclose her assets.

It was also alleged that S Kebi failed to disclose her original name, Sagolshem Sonalika Devi, as recorded in her school records and with the Board of Secondary Education Manipur.

During the hearing, respondent S Kebi submitted a written statement to the Court stating that there was no defect of substantial character in her nomination papers.

She further stated that her original name is Kebi, and that the name Sonalika was adopted by her parents at the time of her school admission and recorded accordingly in school records.

However, she is known by her original name, Kebi, both in school and in her locality, rather than by Sonalika.

The written submission further stated that she could not complete Class X and that she has enrolled her name as Kebi in her Aadhaar Card, Passport, PAN Card, Voter ID, and Electoral Roll, thereby establishing her identity through these documents.

After hearing counsel for both the petitioner and the respondent, the High Court held that the election petition is not maintainable.

Consequently, the election petition filed by S Subhaschandra has been dismissed for lack of merit, and all pending miscellaneous applications stand disposed of accordingly.

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