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Set time-frame for civic poll by Aug 1, SEC told
The question of when the local body elections would be held is fast firming up. The Madras High Court on Wednesday directed the State Election Commission (SEC) to furnish a possible time frame for conducting the elections to the local bodies on August 1.
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The first bench comprising Chief Justice Indira Banerjee and Justice M Sundar after hearing lengthy arguments over the conduct of elections, sought the SEC to come up with the schedule on the assumption that there exists no impediments to hold the elections.
To this, SEC’s counsel B Kumar submitted that as per rule they cannot come up with a schedule without consulting the State Government. However, all they required was 50 days to complete the election process without including the implementation of the regulation as spelt out by the single judge in terms of uploading the nomination paper of over four lakh candidates.
Advocate General R Muthukumaraswamy submitted that the demand for delimitation and holding the local polls as per 2011 census is pending in the Supreme Court. He said already 150 crore has been lost owing to the cancellation of local polls based on the single judge’s order and hence with the Supreme court order likely to come up on August 16, another cancellation would result in severe loss as the whole election process would work out to Rs.450 crore.
However, Senior Counsel, appearing on behalf of the DMK submitted that the Supreme Court has already held that the plea seeking to hold the polls by the 2011 census will not prevent the State from going ahead with the elections, said the whole process is getting delayed owing to the lack of will by the State. He said the SEC was only looking for a way out from not holding the elections.
The bench also refused to add any more impleading petitions but allowed them as intervenors, which meant that they only have a right to be heard. Both the petitioners in this regard insisted that the elections ought to be held as per delimitation or else the election process would be flawed.
Notice on plea seeking Krishna water
The Madras High Court has ordered notice to the State on a plea seeking to send an official delegation to Andhra Pradesh to ensure release of at least five tmcft of Krishna water to meet the drinking water needs of Chennai.
A division bench comprising Justice M Sathyanarayanan and Justice N Seshasayee, on hearing the plea moved by Advocate AP Suryaprakasam on Wednesday, said, “A N Thambidurai, Special Government Pleader, accepts notice on behalf of the State and seeks time to file counter/get instructions. Private notice to the State returnable on August 9.” The bench before ordering notice recorded the petitioner’s contention that Tamil Nadu is facing its worst serious drought in 130 years and all the three major lakes, catering to the drinking water needs of Chennai, have gone bone dry and people have been forced to purchase water.
The petitioner, who appeared as party-in-person, also submitted that as per the agreement reached between the State of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, Krishna water is being supplied and the required quantum of water has not reached the Zero point since the channel is not properly maintained and very many persons illegally extract water from the canal adding to the misery of those in Chennai. He also contended that Srisaliam dam which supplies drinking water to Tamil Nadu is brimming with rain water and it has almost reached 90 per cent capacity and if the State Government uses its good office, there is a likelihood that Andhra Pradesh would definitely show its benevolence for release of water.
No nod to DMK’s protest against NEET, informs govt
The DMK’s plan to hold a human chain protest across all districts seeking presidential assent to two bills suffered a jolt with the State informing the Madras High Court that permission to hold the protest has been denied.
The first bench comprising Chief Justice Indira Banerjee and Justice M Sundar, before whom a Public Interest Litigation had come up seeking to direct the Commissioner of Police not to permit the DMK from holding any strike, demonstration, dharna, human chain protest on July 27 in relation to NEET examination, said, “Additional advocate general C Manishankar on instructions submits that permission to hold protest has not been granted by an order dated July 25. 2017, by the Commissioner of Police.” “There can be no doubt that if there are any illegal activities, action has to be taken. However, petition has become infructuous by reason of the rejection of the request to grant permission to hold protest,” the bench added. The counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioner submitted that any protest against NEET examination would be against the judgment of the Supreme Court.
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