EC directed to probe plaints of 31 co-op societies

Passing interim orders on a batch of pleas that alleged gross irregularities at the nomination stage itself in 31 societies, Justice T Raja said, “since the EC has taken a decision to cancel elections to 122 cooperative societies, the EC, being the guardian of democracy and rule of law, shall also take a decision whether they can conduct election in the respective societies of the aforesaid writ petitions as they have also highlighted various irregularities in rejecting their nomination papers to select the candidates only from a particular party.” 

Also, noting that when the petitioners are entitled to raise their objections to reject nomination papers filed by other candidates with falsehood, more particularly, if they are convicted by the competent Court, the judge said, “No reasonable time therefore has been given. On the contrary, they hurriedly proceeded to declare the candidates with a view to support a certain party which is against democracy and rule of law.” He also directed the petitioners to file their representations by Friday. 

The petitioners had contended that the nomination papers filed by them before the election officer were not properly handled and in some cases the authorities claimed that they had failed to receive the nomination papers presented by some of the members. In other cases, though they have received the papers, they have rejected the same without assigning any reason only to accommodate some candidates belonging to a certain party, which is both discriminatory and unlawful, the petitioner said.