Chennai: Pointing out that the provisions of law may be inadequate to deal with disqualification of candidates, who have been found using enormous money, the Election Commission on Wednesday informed the Madras high court that it will explore the issue and see if some recommendations have to be made for necessary changes in law.
R. Niranjan, counsel for EC made this submission when petitions from PMK candidate M.Baskaran from Aravakurichi Assembly constituency and BJP candidate M.S.Ramalingam from Thanjavur Assembly constituency came up for hearing before a Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice R.Mahadevan.
In his petition, Baskaran sought a direction to EC to conduct a thorough enquiry by giving an opportunity of hearing to all candidates, including the petitioner and voters of Aravakurichi constituency, about the serious allegations of bribe given to voters and consequently to conduct a fresh election in the constituency barring the disqualified candidates if they were proven to have bribed voters.
Ramalingam sought a direction to EC to postpone the election in Thanjavur constituency pursuant to complaints dated May 16 and 18, to some other date as fixed by EC.
Disposing of the petitions, the Bench said the EC was already seized of the issue and in fact, has taken necessary action and continues to take further
action. Counsel for petitioners, however, said steps should be taken for disqualification of candidates, who have been found using enormous money. Counsel for EC said the provisions of law may be inadequate in this behalf. The EC will explore this issue and see if some recommendations have to be made for necessary changes in law, the bench added.
Originally, the elections to the two constituencies were scheduled to be held on May 16. However, following allegations of distribution of money, the EC had postponed the election to May 23. Immediately, these two petitions were filed.
