Tiruparankundram polls: Order will be pronounced on Friday- HC

As Justice P Velmurugan commenced his sitting for the day, senior counsel P Wilson appearing for DMK submitted that a delegation including him met ECI on Saturday to impress upon it to conduct election to the three constituencies. But ECI had expressed its view that the pending election petitions prohibits them from holding the by-poll in the said 3 constituencies.

Owing to ECIs stand of putting away by-elections in the three constituencies citing election petition, Wilson sought the court to list the withdrawal plea moved by the then DMK candidate for hearing.

However, Justice Velmurugan on observing that there is no bar on the ECI from holding elections despite a pending election petition, said, “If the election commission choses to act as per its whims and fancies, this court is not responsible.”

However, since a request is made, the verdict reserved on October 29, 2018 will be pronounced on or before Friday, the judge added.

The election petition moved by the then DMK candidate Dr P Sarvanan had raised doubts as to whether the former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa was conscious when her left thumb impression was obtained in form A and B of AIADMK candidate as the same materially affected his poll prospects. Incidentally, the returned candidate A K Bose died on August 21, 2018. Following this, Saravanan, moved another plea seeking to declare him a winner.