Madras High Court
C.Sreenivasan vs State Of Tamil Nadu on 29 September, 2021
Bench: Sanjib Banerjee, P.D.Audikesavalu
WP No.20781 of 2021
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED: 29.09.2021
CORAM :
THE HON'BLE MR.SANJIB BANERJEE, CHIEF JUSTICE
AND
THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE P.D.AUDIKESAVALU
WP No.20781 of 2021
and WMP No.22048 of 2021
C.Sreenivasan .. Petitioner
Vs.
1. State of Tamil Nadu
By Secretary to Government
Rural Development and
Panchayat Raj Department
Chennai 600 009.
2. The State Election Commission
No.208/2, Jawaharlal Nehru Salai
Arumbakkam, Chennai 600 106.
3. The Inspector of Panchayat and
The District Collector
Ranipet District.
4. The Block Development Officer
Arakkonam Taluk, Ranipet District.
5. The Panchayat Secretary
Eechiputhur Panchayat
Arakonam Panchyat Union
Ranipet District. .. Respondents
__________
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https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/
WP No.20781 of 2021
Prayer: Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India for
issuance of a Writ of Mandamus directing the second and third
respondents to correct the irregularities in voters list and to prepare
the fresh voters list until then to stall the elections for Ward No.8 of
Eechiputhur Panchayat, Arakonam Panchayat Union, Arakonam Taluk,
Ranipet District, within a fixed time frame.
For the Petitioner : Mr.M.Arun
For the Respondents : Mr.P.Muthukumar
State Govt. Pleader
ORDER
(Order of the Court was made by The Hon'ble Chief Justice) The petitioner seeks a postponement of the local body election at Ward No.8 of Eechiputhur Panchayat, Arakkonam Panchayat Union of Arakkonam Taluk, Ranipet on the ground that the voters' list has not been updated or corrected.
2. The local body elections are to be held on October 16, 2021 and all preparatory steps have been completed. It is possible that __________ Page 2 of 5 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/ WP No.20781 of 2021 there may be some omissions or mistaken inclusions in the voters' list, but that cannot be a ground to postpone the elections. While every effort ought to be made to ensure the purity of the voters' list, considering the number of eligible voters, it is understandable that there may be a mistake here and there. More often than not the voters do not indicate the appropriate particulars which result in more mistakes taking place than would have been the case if the appropriate particulars were furnished within reasonable time.
3. Every effort should be made to ensure that the voters' list is corrected. However, merely because of the possibility of some mistake in the voters' list, the election in the constituency scheduled on October 16, 2021 cannot be postponed. It will, however, be open to any authorised person to point out any mistake in the list at the time of voting so that instances of, for example, dead persons voting, do not take place.
4. No ground is made out for countermanding or postponing the upcoming election in respect of the relevant constituency.
__________ Page 3 of 5 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/ WP No.20781 of 2021 WP No.20781 of 2021 is disposed of without any order as to costs. Consequently, WMP No.22048 of 2021 is closed.
(S.B., CJ.) (P.D.A., J.)
29.09.2021
Index : yes/no
sra
To:
1. The Secretary to Government
Rural Development and
Panchayat Raj Department
Chennai 600 009.
2. The State Election Commission No.208/2, Jawaharlal Nehru Salai Arumbakkam, Chennai 600 106.
3. The Inspector of Panchayat and The District Collector Ranipet District.
4. The Block Development Officer Arakkonam Taluk, Ranipet District.
5. The Panchayat Secretary Eechiputhur Panchayat Arakonam Panchyat Union Ranipet District.
__________ Page 4 of 5 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/ WP No.20781 of 2021 THE HON'BLE CHIEF JUSTICE AND P.D.AUDIKESAVALU, J.
(sra) W.P.No.20781 of 2021 29.09.2021 __________ Page 5 of 5 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/