Got time for bypolls till April, tells Election Commission

Responding to a public interest litigation petition, the Election Commission said as there was adequate time left until April 24, 2019, it would decide on a schedule to conduct bypolls to 18 assembly constituencies in Tamil Nadu within this stipulated period.

These constituencies remained vacant after legislators were disqualified by Speaker P Dhanapal. The Commission stated that the Chief Secretary on January 8 forwarded a letter to the Election Commission citing opinion that due to relief works in districts hit by Cyclone Gaja, the bypolls to these 18 constituencies could be conducted along with the Lok Sabha elections.

The petitioner claimed that since these 18 legislators had not appealed before the Supreme Court against the High Court order and the Speaker’s order, it was a bounden duty of the Election Commission to conduct bypolls in these 18 constituencies and fill vacancies.

Hence, the bench should order the EC to conduct bypolls. On hearing the plea, the bench disposed the case.