Govt may not hold Pune Lok Sabha bypoll, it does not respect high court, says retired Bombay HC judge B G Kolse-Patil

The retired judge said the Bombay High Court has given it directions but it may not pursue the matter.

Retired Bombay High Court judge B G Kolse-Patil Thursday said the government may not hold the polls as it does not serve its political purpose. (Representational)

A day after the Bombay High Court directed the Election Commission to hold an immediate bye-election to the Pune Lok Sabha constituency, retired Bombay High Court judge B G Kolse-Patil Thursday said the government may not hold the polls as it does not serve its political purpose.

“The Bombay High Court order is an appropriate one. The bypoll to Pune Lok Sabha seat has been deliberately delayed as it does not suit the political convenience of the ruling party. The ruling party had performed badly in the Kasba Peth assembly seat held earlier this year. Fearing another loss, it has put the election on hold,” Kolse-Patil told the Indian Express.

The retired judge said the Bombay High Court has given it directions but it may not pursue the matter. “High courts generally do not keep a follow-up strictly. On its part, the government will keep giving excuses like less than six months are left for general elections… and get away with it… The government will appeal in the Supreme Court to get a stay on the high court directives which means more time will be lost,” he said.

“If they had to hold the elections, they could have held it almost a year back when the sitting MP died… But this government has purposely delayed the poll as it did not suit its political convenience. Now it may not hold the poll, disregarding the directives of the high court on various grounds. This government has no respect for the judiciary or any other constitutional bodies,” he added.

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Constitutional expert Ulhas Bapat said, “As per the high court directives, the government will have to hold the byoll… I have been saying this for long. As per Section 151A of the Representation of the People Act, if there is more than one year left for general elections, then bypoll will have to be held and held within six months. After Girish Bapat expired, they should have conducted the bypoll but they refused to do so. This could be because Congress candidate Ravindra Dhangekar won the Kasba Peth Assembly bypoll. They (the ruling party), therefore, feared losing the Lok Sabha bypoll and so did not go for it.”

Agreeing with the views of Kolse-Patil, Bapat said, “The Election Commission of India has become the toy in the hands of the Central Government and the Prime Minister. I teach the Constitution to students but as a teacher, I am unhappy with what is happening in the country… This is Maharashtra where the atmosphere is conducive for holding elections.”

Bapat said, “I also know the bye-election will not be held… but as per the Constitution, the bypoll should have been held… The Election Commission is positively guilty in this entire episode. It should explain why it avoided holding the election.”

Manoj Dattatrye More

Manoj Dattatrye More is a Senior Editor at The Indian Express, having been with the publication since 1992. Based in Pune, he is a veteran journalist with a 33-year career that spans editorial desk work, investigative reporting, and political analysis. Professional Legacy Experience: He spent his first 16 years on the editorial desk before moving into active field reporting. He has written over 20,000 stories, including more than 10,000 bylined articles. Impact Journalism: He is widely respected for "campaign-style" reporting that leads to tangible social change. Road Safety: His decade-long campaign regarding the dangerous state of the Pune-Mumbai highway in Khadki resulted in a ₹23 crore reconstruction project in 2006, which dramatically reduced fatalities. Environmental Protection: His reports against tree cutting on the Pune-Mumbai and Pune-Nashik highways saved approximately 2,000 trees. Anti-Corruption: During the COVID-19 pandemic, he exposed a scam where doctors were being asked to pay bribes for government jobs, resulting in them being hired without payment. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Manoj More's recent work focuses heavily on the shifting political landscape of Maharashtra and civic governance in the Pimpri-Chinchwad area: 1. Political Shifts & Alliances "Ajit Pawar's NCP continues domination in Pune, wins 10 of 17 local bodies" (Dec 21, 2025): A major report on the local self-government election results, detailing the NCP’s stronghold in Baramati, Indapur, and Lonavala. "BJP ropes in 13 ex-corporators, deals major blow to NCP" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on a significant political defection in Pimpri-Chinchwad as the BJP gears up for civic polls. "Congress opts for solo BMC run as alliance talks with Sena (UBT) collapse" (Dec 17, 2025): Covering the breakdown of Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) talks for the Mumbai civic elections. "NCP(SP)'s Rahul Kalate, Sena (UBT) leader Sanjog Waghere set to join BJP" (Dec 19, 2025): Detailing high-profile party-hopping ahead of the municipal elections. 2. Civic & Administrative Accountability "PCMC draws ire for issuing tenders worth Rs 250 crore just before poll code" (Dec 17, 2025): An investigative piece on the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation’s last-minute spending spree before election restrictions. "93 killed in 76 accidents in five years: Bypass service roads in Pune remain undeveloped for 18 yrs" (Nov 16, 2025): A critical look at the long-delayed infrastructure projects contributing to fatalities on Pune’s bypass roads. 3. Social & Labor Issues "As state says TCS has laid off 376 employees: FITE flags figures, say nearly 2,500 were forced to quit" (Dec 11, 2025): Investigating conflicting reports regarding IT sector layoffs in Maharashtra. "Maharashtra govt move to 'downgrade' Aadhaar cards" (Nov 30, 2025): Reporting on the state’s decision to require additional documents alongside Aadhaar to combat identity misuse. Signature Beat Manoj More is the definitive voice on Pimpri-Chinchwad, an industrial hub he has covered for three decades. His reporting is characterized by its aggressive stance against local "gondaism" (thuggery) and a relentless focus on civic infrastructure—choked drains, garbage management, and public transport. X (Twitter): @manojmore91982 ... Read More

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