For the first time, the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Wednesday allowed a petitioner to submit videotaped evidence in support of his claim that he had lost an election due to violence during the counting process.
The videotape was played in the court hall of Justice S Tamilvanan by Veerakathiravan, counsel for petitioner M Srinivasan, a councillor of the Sedappati Panchayat Union. Srinivasan submitted that he had contested against Ward 8 councillor Shanthakumari for the post of Vice Chairman of the Sedappati Panchayat for which election was held on November 30 last year.
Srinivasan contended that 10 votes were in his favour and Shanthakumari secured seven votes. One vote was declared invalid. Shanthakumari picked up a quarrel and allegedly tore the ballot papers. The election was called off and a criminal complaint was filed against her. In the petition Srinivasan prayed that the court declare him elected to the post of Vice Chairman in view of the voilence. The case was adjourned to Friday.