NE LEGAL BUREAU
CHENNAI, JAN 3
Hearing a petition filed by the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) on urgent basis, the Madras High Court on Thursday night directed the state election commission to file a written affidavit by 4 pm on Friday (Jan. 3) on how counting, recording, declaring results and disposing of requests for recounting are carried out in the elections to rural local bodies.
Justice M. Sathyanarayanan passed an interim order after concluding the New Year’s first late night hearing. In an urgent plea, the DMK alleged that the election authorities were delaying declaring of results in rural local bodies where the party had performed well.
In areas like Edappadi, Sangagiri, Mettur, Karur and Dindigul, the authorities were delaying declaring the results even though counting had concluded. These are the areas where the DMK has performed well, senior counsel P. Wilson said.
He further alleged that unauthorised persons were being allowed to enter counting centres and that the three-tier security provided as per the orders of the Supreme Court was being slowly withdrawn.
Apprehending foul play by the ruling AIADMK in collusion with the election authorities during the ensuing night of December 2, Wilson wanted the court to direct the commission to not withdraw the three-tier security or chase away DMK candidates from counting centres.
Opposing the plea, commission’s counsel senior advocate ARL Sundaresan said the commission was a constitutional authority and was doing its best to ensure free and fair elections.
Recording the submissions, the court directed the commission to submit all its contentions in a written affidavit and adjourned the plea to 4 pm Friday.
