Southern States - Tamil Nadu   

John Pandian poll petition against Ilamvazhuthi dismissed

By Our Staff Reporter

CHENNAI APRIL 29. A petition filed by B. John Pandian against the winning DMK candidate and former Deputy Speaker, Parithi Ilamvazhuthi, from Egmore here was today dismissed by the Madras High Court. (Mr. Ilamvazhuthi defeated Mr. John Pandian by just 86 votes in the May 10, 2001 Assembly elections).

``There was no cogent, satisfactory and reliable evidence on the side of the petitioner to prove the allegations, against Mr. Ilamvazhuthi, of undue influence, corrupt practice and such other practices materially affecting the results'', ruled Justice P. Thangavel.

Mr. John Pandian, who contested on AIADMK symbol, sought to declare the election void and to declare him duly elected. He alleged that his polling agent was threatened by a DMK functionary, resulting in over 100 voters leaving the booth without casting votes. Alleging several such incidents, he said Mr. Ilamvazhuthi himself led a gang and caused panic among and injury to agents.

A request for repoll in the booths captured by the petitioner and his men was rejected by the polling officer on the ground that no such incident was reported by any official.

Refuting the claims, counsel for Mr. Ilamvazhuthi submitted that there was no basis to show that hundreds of voters had gone without exercising their democratic right. No particular of those voters was produced in court.

Dismissing the petition, with Rs. 2,000 as costs, Mr. Justice Thangavel: ``There is no acceptable evidence of the allegation made against Mr. Ilamvazhuthi and there is also no evidence that he had given consent to the election agent or another person to commit undue influence or corrupt practice or any act materially affecting the results of the election.

``If any irregularity is committed by the agents of any other person interested in the candidate, the consent of the candidate or the election agent should be pleaded and proved.

The sins of committing illegal acts or offence by an election agent cannot be passed on to the candidate.

``This court holds that neither Mr. Ilamvazhuthi nor his men committed any corrupt practice by booth capturing within the meaning of the Representation of the People Act. There is absolutely no proof of Mr. Ilamvazhuthi and his men holding out any threat to polling officials.''

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Southern States

News: Front Page | National | Southern States | Other States | International | Opinion | Business | Sport | Miscellaneous |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Obituary |

Stories in this Section

• 'Kudimagal' enters Tamil dictionary
• Vellore patient tests positive
• Action plan to eliminate child labour by 2007
• Town panchayats will be abolished: Jayalalithaa
• Bail for Gopal in Rajamani murder case
• Bank officers plan stir on May 2
• `Zonal IGs can help to restore public confidence'
• Doctors divided on private colleges
• John Pandian poll petition against Ilamvazhuthi dismissed
• Expunge CM remarks: PT notice to Speaker
• Vellore killers used foreign pistol?
• Our DMK links are akin to communist ties, says Vaiko

Copyright © 2003, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu