State Election Commission asked to come clear on conduct of civic polls

Justice Kirubakaran on pointing out that while his order clearly stated that the local body elections should be concluded within December 31, 2016 and the division bench, which is hearing the appeal had not stayed it, asked why the SEC in one pretext or the other sought to postpone the polls. 

When a contempt petition filed by one of the candidates whose nomination was rejected in the local body elections come up on Monday, the Judge while referring to SEC’s submission before the Division Bench that it may be practically difficult to conduct the local body elections by May 14, 2017 questioned when there is no stay on his order to conduct the elections by December 31, 2016, why the elections was postponed. 

The counsel appearing on behalf of SEC submitted that it had not told the Division Bench that there was no scope to hold the elections before May 14 and that it was misquoted by the media. 

However, justice Kirubakaran, said that he will wait for the result of the writ appeal filed by SEC and the state government against the order passed by him before taking up the matter. The case has been posted for further hearing to April 3 2017.