HC advocate sends notice to ECI

Chennai, May 14: A Madras High Court advocate has sent a notice to the Election Commission of India and the Chief Electoral Officer of Tamil Nadu with copy to the Registrar, Supreme Court to apprise the Chief Justice of the apex court of the election manifestos containing freebies announced by various leading parties in Tamil Nadu.

Advocate Subramaniam Balaji referred to the various poll manifestos of political parties announcing freebies and found fault with the ECI for not replying to his complaint on May 8 despite an assurance that a reply will be given within two days.

The advocate cited a supreme court judgment dated July 5, 2013 and said announcements made with regard to freebies by DMK and AIADMK are against the apex court order.

He wanted the ECI to countermand the elections, "seek for President's rule at the expiry of office of the current dispensation, which is on May 15 and conduct the election after seeking fresh manifestos from all parties containing only policies with implementable budget estimates and not freebies."

The advocate in his notice said this was to establish a level playing field for all candidates irrespective of whether they are from political parties/unregistered political parties or independents.

PTI