**Executive Summary**
This notification, published by the Election Commission of India on March 20, 2026, communicates a Supreme Court judgment regarding a long-standing election dispute from 2012. The Supreme Court issued its final order on February 12, 2026, disposing of Civil Appeal No. 6889 of 2012 as infructuous. This concludes the legal challenge against the election of two Rajya Sabha members from Jharkhand.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Legal Authority and Publication**
* The notification is issued in pursuance of Section 116 C of the Representation of the People Act, 1951.
* The Election Commission of India is formally publishing the judgment of the Supreme Court of India dated February 12, 2026.
**Case Background**
* The dispute originated from Election Petition No. 1 of 2012 filed by Shri Nirbhay Kumar Shahabadi.
* The petition challenged the election of Shri Pradeep Balmuchu and Shri Sanjeev Kumar to the Council of States (Rajya Sabha) from the State of Jharkhand.
* The High Court of Jharkhand at Ranchi had previously dismissed the election petition on August 1, 2012.
**Supreme Court Decision**
* The Supreme Court noted that the election petition related to members whose terms of office have already been completed.
* Due to the expiration of the term, the Court disposed of Civil Appeal No. 6889 of 2012 as infructuous.
* All pending applications related to this matter stand disposed of.
**Impact Analysis**
**Shri Pradeep Balmuchu and Shri Sanjeev Kumar (Respondents)**
**Impact**
The legal challenge against their 2012 election is officially concluded. As their terms of office have already ended, the judgment confirms there is no further legal controversy regarding their past membership.
**Action Required**
No action required.
**Shri Nirbhay Kumar Shahabadi (Appellant)**
**Impact**
The appellant’s challenge to the 2012 election results has been closed by the Supreme Court without a reversal of the lower court's decision, primarily due to the passage of time.
**Action Required**
None; the legal proceedings have reached a final disposition.
**Election Commission of India**
**Impact**
The Commission has fulfilled its statutory duty under the Representation of the People Act, 1951, to publish the Supreme Court's judgment in the official Gazette.
**Action Required**
The Commission must ensure the judgment is recorded and the notification is distributed as per official protocol.
Key Entities Referenced
Representation of the People Act, 1951: The primary legislation governing elections in India, specifically cited under Section 116 C for the publication of the Supreme Court's judgment.
Election Commission of India: The constitutional authority responsible for administering election processes and the publisher of this notification.
Supreme Court of India: The apex judicial body that issued the final order in Civil Appeal No. 6889/2012, disposing of the challenge to the Jharkhand Rajya Sabha elections.
Jharkhand High Court: The judicial body that originally dismissed the election petition in 2012, leading to the subsequent appeal in the Supreme Court.
Council of States (Rajya Sabha), Jharkhand: The specific legislative house and location for which the disputed 2012 elections of Shri Pradeep Balmuchu and Shri Sanjeev Kumar were held.
रजिस्ट्री स.ं डी.एल.- 33004/99 REGD. No. D. L.-33004/99
सी.जी.-डी.एल.-अ.-23032026-271183
xxxGIDHxxx
CG-DL-E-23032026-271183
xxxGIDExxx
असाधारण
EXTRAORDINARY
भाग II—खण् ड 3—उप-खण्ड (iii)
PART II—Section 3—Sub-section (iii)
प्राजधकार स ेप्रकाजित
PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY
स.ं 13] िई दिल्ली, िुक्रर्ार, माच ा20, 2026/फाल्ग िु 29, 1947
No. 13] NEW DELHI, FRIDAY, MARCH 20, 2026/PHALGUNA 29, 1947
भारत जिर्ाचा ि आयोग
अजधसचू िा
िई दिल्ली, 20 माच,ा 2026
आ.अ. 13(अ).— लोक प्रजतजिजधत्र् अजधजियम 1951 (1951 की 43) की धारा 116 ग के अिुसरण म,ें जिर्ााचि
आयोग 2012 की जिर्ााचि अिी सं० 1, िो दक झारखण्ड राज्य स े राज्य सभा के सिस्ट्यों के रुप म ें श्री प्रिीप बालमुच ू एर् ं
श्री संिीर् कुमार के जिर्ााचि को चुिौती िेते हुए श्री जिभाय कुमार िाहाबािी द्वारा िाजखल की गई थी, में रांची जस्ट्थत
झारखंड
उच्च
न्यायालय के तारीख 1 अगस्ट्त, 2012 के आिेि से उत्पन्न हुई 2012 की जसजर्ल अपील सं० 6889 म ें
12 फ़रर्री, 2026 को भारत के न्यायालय के जिणाय को एतद्वारा प्रकाजित करता ह।ै
उच्चतम
(संलग् ि आिेि यहा ंमुदित करें)
[फा.सं. 82/सीएस-िेएच/1/12/2026-बीई]
आिेि से,
सुमि कुमार िास, सजचर्
2077 GI/2026 (1)2 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY [PART II—SEC. 3(iii)]
ELECTION COMMISSION OF INDIA
NOTIFICATION
New Delhi, the 20th March, 2026
O.N. 13(E).— In pursuance of clause (b) of Sub-Section (2) of Section 116 C of the Representation
of the People Act, 1951 (43 of 1951), the Election Commission hereby publishes the judgment of the Supreme
Court of India dated 12th February, 2026 in Civil Appeal no. 6889 of 2012 arising from the order dated
1st August 2012 of the High Court of Jharkhand at Ranchi in Election Petition No. 1 of 2012 filed by
Shri Nirbhay Kumar Shahabadi calling in question the election of Shri Pradeep Balmuchu & Shri Sanjeev
Kumar as the Members of the Council of States from the State of Jharkhand.
(Here print the order attached).
[F. No. 82/CS-JH/1/12/2026-BE]
By Order,
SUMAN KUMAR DAS, Secy.
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION
CIVIL APPEAL NO(S). 6889/2012
NIRBHAY KUMAR SHAHABADI ...Appellant(s)
VERSUS
PRADEEP BALMUCHU & ANR. ...Respondent(s)
ORDER
We have heard the learned counsel for the respective parties.
The election petition related to election of two members to the Rajya Sabha from Jharkhand
Legislative Assembly which was dismissed by the Jharkhand High Court by order dated 01.08.2012. We find
that the term has also been completed.
In the circumstances, we dispose of this appeal as infructuous.
Pending application(s) shall stand disposed of.
-Sd.-. ........J.
(B.V. NAGARATHNA)
-Sd.-. .........J.
(UJJAL BHUYAN)
NEW DELHI
FEBRUARY 12, 2026
Uploaded by Dte. of Printing at Government of India Press, Ring Road, Mayapuri, New Delhi-110064
and Published by the Controller of Publications, Delhi-110054.