The Madras High Court heard final arguments in a petition seeking to restrain the Election Commission from announcing by-elections in five Assembly constituencies, citing pending election petitions.
The case was filed by K. Venkatajalapathi, a lawyer from Palayamkottai in Tirunelveli district and a BJP functionary. He sought a bar on declaring bypolls for Tiruchi East, Karur, Viralimalai, Perundurai and Ambasamudram until the election cases are decided.
Earlier, the High Court had ordered a stay on announcing by-elections in the five constituencies until July 10. The Election Commission also filed a reply stating that bypolls would not be notified until the election petitions are concluded.
Seeking to lift the restraint on announcing by-elections, Chief Minister Vijay and others moved the court. Before the bench of Chief Justice S.A. Dharmadhikari and Justice G. Arul Murugan, CM Vijay’s counsel argued that keeping constituencies vacant until the election cases end is against public interest, and contended that the matter is not a public interest case but one driven by individual interest.
As the arguments on behalf of the Chief Minister were not completed, the judges adjourned the hearing.
