Kerala High Court
Mullappalli Ramachandran vs The Chief Election Commissioner on 15 April, 2009
Author: Antony Dominic
Bench: S.Siri Jagan, Antony Dominic
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM
WP(C).No. 12365 of 2009(M)
1. MULLAPPALLI RAMACHANDRAN,
... Petitioner
Vs
1. THE CHIEF ELECTION COMMISSIONER,
... Respondent
2. THE CHIEF ELECTORAL OFFICER,
3. THE RETURNING OFFICER,
4. THE DIRECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE,
5. THE INSPECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE,
6. THE SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE, KANNUR.
7. THE SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE,
For Petitioner :SRI.BABU JOSEPH KURUVATHAZHA
For Respondent :SRI.MURALI PURUSHOTHAMAN, SC,ELE.COMMN.
The Hon'ble MR. Justice S.SIRI JAGAN
The Hon'ble MR. Justice ANTONY DOMINIC
Dated :15/04/2009
O R D E R
S. SIRI JAGAN AND ANTONY DOMINIC, JJ.
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W.P.(C). No.12365 OF 2009
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Dated this the 15th day of April, 2009
J U D G M E N T
Antony Dominic, J.
The petitioner, a candidate contesting at the Vadakara Parliamentary Constituency, has filed this writ petition praying for directing the respondents to ensure that law and order is maintained at all places of the constituency in order to ensure that the election scheduled to be held on 16.4.2009 is free and fair.
2. When the matter was taken up for admission, we heard the standing counsel appearing for respondents 1 to 3 and also the Additional Director General of Prosecution on behalf of respondents 4 to 7.
3. The standing counsel for respondents 1 to 3 on instructions submitted that in the Vadakara Parliamentary Constituency they have identified 136 booths, which are located at 106 locations, as vulnerable. In respect of the aforesaid 136 vulnerable booths, the standing counsel submits that they have ensured deployment of special police officers, in order to ensure WP(C).12365/09 2 that a free and fair atmosphere is arranged for voting. It is also submitted that in Thalassery and Koothuparamba constituencies, which are located in Kannur District, they have deployed additional forces under a Superintendent of Police, in order to take care of any untoward incidents disturbing the peaceful election. It is also submitted that an Additional Director General of Police will be camping at Kannur and will be overseeing the arrangements.
4. The Additional Director General of Prosecution also generally endorses the submission made on behalf of respondents 1 to 3.
From the submission thus made by the standing counsel appearing for respondents 1 to 3, it can be seen that they have, on their own, made arrangements for ensuring that the election from the Vadakara Parliamentary Constituency is free and fair. We therefore, record the aforesaid submissions and close the writ petition on that basis.
S. SIRI JAGAN, JUDGE ANTONY DOMINIC, JUDGE okb