Calcutta High Court Dismisses Congress Petition Over BJP Nandigram Candidate Age Affidavit

The Calcutta High Court has dismissed a petition filed by the state Congress alleging an age discrepancy in the election affidavit of BJP candidate Hasirani Rath for the Nandigram bypoll. Justice Krishna Rao announced the dismissal in court, noting the Congress claim that Rath listed her age as over 60 while recording her Class 10 pass-out year as 1965.

Context

High courts regularly review election petitions and candidate affidavits during election cycles to resolve disputes regarding candidate eligibility and nomination filings. Such legal challenges are a standard part of electoral oversight in India, where candidates must officially declare their educational and personal details.