SC issues status quo order on Jaya petition

New Delhi, July 10: The Supreme Court today directed to maintain status quo as on today in two cases registered against AIADMK General Secretary J Jayalaithaa by the Election Commision of for filing a false affidavit.

A bench comprising Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan and Justice R V Raveendran also issued notices to the Election Commission and DMK MP C Kuppusami, on whose petition the Madras High Court, had on June 13, 2007, directed the EC to act against Ms Jayalalithaa.

She had filed nomination form from four assembly constituencies during 2001 assembly elections namely Andipatti, Krishnagiri, Bhuvanagiri and Budukottai assembly constituencies.

All the four nominations were rejected as at that time she was disqualified from contesting elections in view of her conviction in Tansi land scam case and was sentenced to three years imprisonment in the case by the trial court.

As per section 33 (7) of the Representation of the People Act 1951, a person cannot file nominations from more than two constituencies but Jayalalithaa filed nominations from four constituencies and suppressed the fact by filing a false affidavit before the Returning Officer, thereby committing an offence under section 177 IPC.

The Election Commission registered two FIRs against Jayalalithaa yesterday as per the directions of the High Court.

She was however exonerated in Tansi land scam case by the Supreme Court. The status quo order was passed by the apex court after the appeal filed by Jayalalithaa against Madras High Court judgement was mentioned before the court this morning.

UNI