PIL questioning CM’s thumb impression dismissed

The first bench comprising of Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice R Mahadevan on dismissing the plea moved by Traffic Ramaswamy in this regard, said, “In our view, it is for the ECI to verify the authenticity of the papers so far as the assignment of scrutiny is concerned and if there are any infirmities in the election process which makes the election capable of being challenged that is a matter of election petition.” The bench also held that, “We have already noticed that in the present case the election symbol already stands allotted. We are not inclined to interfere with the present PIL filed in this behalf.”

Traffic Ramaswamy in his PIL had contended that the nominations filed in question for the purposes of allotment of symbol of the AIADMK party is through a process of affixation of thumb impression by the General Secretary of the party who is hospitalised and may not be able to decipher what is ought to be done. 

He had further submitted that mere declaration by doctors must not be accepted as gospel truth and must be put to the test and satisfy the public that the democratic process is not flawed in filing crucial election papers of the nominator.