In Brief
In a 2019 election to the Arunachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly, independent candidate Karikho Kri won with 7,538 votes. Defeated INC candidate Nuney Tayang filed an election petition alleging Karikho Kri improperly hid three motor vehicles and failed to disclose prior government accommodation. The High Court agreed and annulled the election. The Supreme Court reversed, holding that vehicles sold or gifted before nomination filing cannot be treated as currently owned by dependent family members and need not be disclosed. The Court also found no material defect in failing to disclose former government accommodation where no actual dues existed. The judgment reaffirmed that not every nomination defect is substantial; candidates retain privacy rights on irrelevant matters, and only assets of significant value reflecting candidature require disclosure.
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