Doctor told to appear before court in Jaya thumb mark row

The Madras HC has directed Balaji of Apollo Hospitals who had attested the left thumb impression to be present in the court on October 27 with all relevant records.
Representational image
Representational image
Updated on
1 min read

CHENNAI: The Madras High Court has directed Balaji of Apollo Hospitals who had attested the left thumb impression (LTI) of former AIADMK general secretary and Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa in the election documents of party candidate AK Bose in Tirupparankundram by poll, to be present in the court on October 27 with all relevant records. As per the earlier orders of Justice P Velmurugan, Secretary of Election Commission, KF Wilfred appeared on Friday.

Originally, defeated DMK candidate for Tirupparankundram Assembly constituency P Saravanan had filed a petition challenging the election of AIADMK candidate A K Bose. When Wilfred was questioned as to under what basis he had attested the LTI of Jayalalithaa, the official replied that it was based on a letter given by E Madhusudhanan, party presidium chairman dated October 26, 2016.

The Chief Minister was not well and not in a position to sign. Hence, her LTI was attested by the doctor which can be taken on file. To another question as to whether the Commission had checked who had authorised Madhusudhanan to give such a letter, the official replied that “We believed the letter to be true.” The judge then posted the matter for appearance of the doctor who attested the LTI on October 27.

Rules on attestation

When asked whether any amendment had been made to the election conduct rules which said that only the Returning Officer or an officer not below the rank of SDO should attest the signature, the EC official replied in the negative

Related Stories

No stories found.

X
The New Indian Express
www.newindianexpress.com