HC reserves orders on PIL to declare local body polls void

Chennai, Nov 16 (UNI) Madras High Court today reserved orders on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking to declare void the election to 155 wards held on October 13 for Chennai Corporation.

A Division Bench comprising Mr Justice S Mukhopadya and Mr Justice F M Ibrahim Kalifullah reserved orders after hearing arguments from both sides on the PIL filed by AIADMK MLA D Jayakumar and others.

In his PIL, Mr Jayakumar alleged that there was mass rigging, booth capturing and casting bogus votes right from the start of polling on October 13. There was large scale violence. Voters were prevented from exercising their franchise. Polling officers were threatened at knife-point.

The State Election Commission and the Commissioner of Police had failed to perform their duties and they acted in favour of the ruling party, he contended.

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