Jayalalithaa’s legal hassle: Court dismisses PIL against Amma's thumb impression on poll papers

The court dismissed the PIL, filed by Traffic Ramaswamy, challenging affixing of thumb impression of Jayalalithaa on nomination papers of AIADMK candidates for the November 19 bypolls.

Chennai, Nov 8: There is one more good news for the ruling AIADMK in Tamil Nadu to celebrate.

After Apollo Hospitals in Chennai confirmed that Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalalithaa has completely recovered, the Madras High Court on Monday quashed a PIL filed against Amma.

The court dismissed the PIL, earlier filed by Traffic Ramaswamy, challenging affixing of thumb impression of the ailing chief minister on nomination papers of AIADMK candidates for the November 19 bypolls.

The court said it was for the Election Commission to verify the authenticity of the papers.

"In our view, it is for the ECI to verify the authenticity of the papers so far as the assignment of scrutiny is concerned and if there are any infirmities in the election process which makes the election capable of being challenged that is a matter of election petition," the court ruled.

The Chennai-based social activist filed the petition in the court, seeking to declare chief minister affixing her left thumb impression on poll papers of AIADMK candidates as "illegal and ultra vires of the Constitution".

According to Ramaswamy, affixing the thumb impression was a violation of the election code.

Reports say Amma has an inflamed right hand as she had undergone tracheostomy and thus had to affix her left thumb impression in the poll documents.

AIADMK candidates in Aravakurichi, Thanjavur and Thirupparankundram assembly segments had filed Forms A and B, featuring the left thumb impression of AIADMK supremo, instead of her signature. All three constituencies go to the polls on November 19.

The AIADMK had taken permission from the Election Commission to allow Jayalalithaa to put her thumb impression in view of her health and the poll body had given its nod.

The AIADMK supremo is undergoing treatment in Apollo Hospitals, Chennai since September 22.

OneIndia News