Chennai: The Madras high court has refused to accept the argument that the demonetisation of 500 and 1,000 currency notes will impact elections in Aravakurichi and Thanjavur constituencies, and hence polls to these two segments must be postponed.
The first bench, hearing a PIL from one A.A Sadik Ali, also declined to interfere with the political parties' decision to re-nominate same candidates for the elections, which had originally been scheduled to be held with remaining 232 constituencies in Tamil Nadu in May this year, but were deferred when reports of voter bribing surfaced.
"Parties, in their wisdom, have nominated the same candidates," said the bench refusing to interfere with their decision. He, however, concurred with the submissions of senior counsel who said purity of the poll process should be ensured. Since fair polls are fundamental to the democracy, the Election Commission of India had cancelled the earlier poll process and scheduled it now, the bench said.
The senior counsel said same candidates against whom allegations of corruption had been levelled, were re-nominated by their respective parties though there are Supreme Court rulings mandating the Election Commission to conduct polls only after concluding inquiries relating to disqualification of candidates if any.
In the present case, the Election Commission has been making contradictory statements, he said, adding that on one hand it says the commission does not have powers to disqualify candidates unless their offences are proved, and on the other hand it has initiated inquiry into the allegations of distribution of money and other gifts to voters.
In his miscellaneous petition, Sadik Ali had apprehended that the AIADMK and DMK contesting in Aravakurichi and Thanjavur constituencies might convert at least 50 crores of old currencies, by distributing the demonetised denominations to voters.
Claiming that the election could become a platform for conversion of demonetised currencies.
The first bench, hearing a PIL from one A.A Sadik Ali, also declined to interfere with the political parties' decision to re-nominate same candidates for the elections, which had originally been scheduled to be held with remaining 232 constituencies in Tamil Nadu in May this year, but were deferred when reports of voter bribing surfaced.
"Parties, in their wisdom, have nominated the same candidates," said the bench refusing to interfere with their decision. He, however, concurred with the submissions of senior counsel who said purity of the poll process should be ensured. Since fair polls are fundamental to the democracy, the Election Commission of India had cancelled the earlier poll process and scheduled it now, the bench said.
The senior counsel said same candidates against whom allegations of corruption had been levelled, were re-nominated by their respective parties though there are Supreme Court rulings mandating the Election Commission to conduct polls only after concluding inquiries relating to disqualification of candidates if any.
In the present case, the Election Commission has been making contradictory statements, he said, adding that on one hand it says the commission does not have powers to disqualify candidates unless their offences are proved, and on the other hand it has initiated inquiry into the allegations of distribution of money and other gifts to voters.
In his miscellaneous petition, Sadik Ali had apprehended that the AIADMK and DMK contesting in Aravakurichi and Thanjavur constituencies might convert at least 50 crores of old currencies, by distributing the demonetised denominations to voters.
Claiming that the election could become a platform for conversion of demonetised currencies.