CHENNAI: The Madras High Court on Wednesday ordered the Tamil Nadu State Election Commission (TNSEC) to file a reply by Thursday to a petition alleging that ward members from the DMK and its allies stalled the indirect election to the Aduthurai town panchayat in Thanjavur.
The first bench of Chief Justice Munishwar Nath Bhandari and Justice D Bharatha Chakravarthy issued the direction to TNSEC after hearing the petitions filed by chairman aspirant Ma Ka Stalin and seven ward members supporting him.
In a council of 15 members, Stalin has support of eight members, including himself, while DMK and its allies have a combined strength of seven. He was contesting for the post of chairman while S Kamala was contesting for the vice-chairman post.
On the day of the indirect elections (March 4), the three DMK members stayed away from the council meeting while those of its allies created a ruckus in the council. They tore the nomination papers before stalling the election, the petitioner alleged.
He said that the Executive Officer (EO) of the town panchayat had lodged a police complaint against four ward members and an FIR was also registered by the Thiruvidaimarudur police. He said the EO failed to take any action despite a memorandum being submitted seeking to conduct the indirect election with police security.
Alleging a further delay in holding the election would lead to horse-trading, Stalin said the TNSEC and the EO gave a chance for councillors of DMK coalition to benefit through further deferring of election. He sought for orders to conduct the indirect election with adequate police security and videographing of the entire proceedings in order to ensure a free and fair exercise.
‘Delay in polls would lead to horse trading’
Alleging a further delay in holding the polls would lead to horse-trading, Ma Ka Stalin said TNSEC and the EO gave a chance for councillors of DMK coalition to benefit
Summons issued by tahsildar quashed
Madurai: The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court quashed a summons issued by a tahsildar to panchayat president with regard to removing her from the post. Hearing the plea filed by Melapattam Karisalkulam panchayat president, A Lakshmi Azhkapuriyan, Justice Abdul Quddhose said the court had already directed Virudhunagar Collector on February 8 to give Lakshmi an opportunity to
appear for personal hearing before taking decision on removing her from the post. The judge also noted the Collector ought to have informed the tahsildar about the court’s order. Since the tahsildar issued the communication without following the court order, the judge quashed the proceedings.