The Election Commission informed the Madras High Court that a case has been registered in connection with the distribution of “housewife scheme” coupons carrying a value of Rs 8,000, linked to a DMK election manifesto promise.
According to the petition, the DMK’s manifesto for the Assembly election said coupons worth Rs 8,000 would be provided under the scheme, enabling women to purchase household items of their choice.
AIADMK Lawyers’ Wing deputy secretary R.A.S. Senthilvel filed the plea alleging that DMK candidates and party workers were distributing model coupons to voters in several constituencies, including Coimbatore South, Bargur, Palacode, Kumbakonam and Anna Nagar. The petitioner argued that distributing such coupons before coming to power amounts to an offence under the Representation of the People Act.
Hearing the matter, a bench comprising Chief Justice S.A. Dharmadhikari and Justice G. Arul Murugan recorded the Election Commission’s submission that action had been taken and a notice seeking an explanation had been issued to the concerned political party. The court then closed the case.
