Senior Supreme Court advocate and prominent public interest litigation (PIL) activist Prashant Bhushan was sharply reprimanded by the Supreme Court on October 9, 2025, for submitting a false affidavit in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of Bihar’s electoral rolls case. The Election Commission of India (ECI) contested Bhushan’s affidavit, calling it “false” and accusing him and the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) of misleading the Court with unverifiable claims about voter deletions.
The Court expressed serious displeasure over Bhushan’s submission, highlighting that many names cited as deleted were never part of the draft list since the individuals had not submitted enumeration forms. Justice Surya Kant’s bench criticized Bhushan for filing affidavits without proper verification, warning that such acts obstruct judicial processes and confuse the ongoing efforts to protect voter rights.
Bhushan defended himself by stating the affidavit was provided by a “responsible person,” but the Court emphasized his duty to verify facts before submission. The bench also ordered the Bihar State Legal Services Authority to assist voters excluded from the voter list to file timely appeals.
In a striking development, the Supreme Court indicated that all PILs filed by Prashant Bhushan should undergo thorough scrutiny to ensure the integrity and accuracy of affidavits submitted in public interest. The Court’s firm stance signals heightened judicial oversight over Bhushan’s future litigations to prevent misuse of the PIL mechanism.
This episode marks a critical turnaround for Bhushan, known for his activist interventions, and underlines the judiciary’s zero tolerance for unverified claims that could hinder transparent electoral processes.
