Chennai: The DMK party has filed a contempt petition against Tamil Nadu State Election Commission and the state government for their willful disobedience of the order of the court in the matter relating to conducting the local body election by May 14.
The DMK party represented by its organisation secretary filed the petition to punish the TNSEC and the state government for not complying with the order of the court dated February 21, 2017.
A division bench comprising Justices Nooty Ramamohana Rao and S.M.Subramaniam, before whom the petition came up for hearing adjourned it to April 18, after senior counsel P.Wilson, appearing for the petitioner sought time to file additional documents.
According to petitioner, on a petition filed by him, a single judge had on October 4, 2016, quashed the election notification and issued several directions to the TNSEC which include conduct of elections by December 31.
As against this order, the TNSEC filed an appeal. However, the state government accepted the order as it did not choose to file any appeal.
When the case came up for hearing on October 18, 2016, a division bench refused to grant any stay. Subsequently, on February 21, 2017, the bench directed the TNSEC to complete the entire election process to all the local bodies in the state latest by May 14. Therefore, by virtue of the said order, the TNSEC shall conduct and complete the election process to all local bodies before May 14.
As there was no sign of commencing any process relating to the election for local bodies, the petitioner sent a notice on February 28, calling upon TNSEC to comply with the directions issued by the court in its letter and spirit and complete the election process namely the publication of public notice of election and commencement of receipt of nomination up to the date on which the meeting of ward members/councilors shall be held for the election of Mayor/Deputy Mayor or Chairman/Vice Chairman on or before May 14. Despite receipt of the notice, no process was commenced so far.
The TNSEC and the state government were committing willful disobedience of the order of the court, which amounted to contempt of court, he added.
