Madras HC disposes PIL seeking more flying squads, lauds EC's efforts
Chennai: Pointing out the submission of the Election Commission that every step is being taken to ensure free and fair elections to the state legislative assembly, the Madras high court disposed a PIL, which sought a direction to the EC to deploy booth level committee comprising flying squads and others to curb the illegal movement of money and gifts in any form to bribe the voters in the ensuing election, scheduled to be held on May 16.
Disposing of the PIL from S.P. Sreenivas, a division bench comprising Justices N. Kirubakaran and Justice M.V. Muralidharan said the ECI was taking earnest efforts to conduct fair election. It has also brought higher officials from outside the state. ‘When such efforts are being taken by the election commission, no further orders are necessary”, the bench added.
In his counter affidavit, Chief Electoral Officer Rajesh Lakhoni submitted that with a view to curb use of black money and likely inducement of voters in the assembly election 2016,
As additional measures, it has decided to deploy further flying squads. 5,600 zonal parties will function as additional flying squads, thus totaling up to 16,800 squads being deployed and functional since May 11.
Totally, 94 assembly constituencies have been identified as expenditure sensitive and one exclusive expenditure observer has been appointed for each. Apart from this, 117 IPS probationers will be part of the flying squads from May 12 and it has been planned to have 1,280 additional flying squads in the night shift alone to check the distribution of money, he added.
He said as on May 10, Rs 69.33 crore was seized by various squads. Out of the same Rs 45.64 crore had been released and Rs 23.68 crore was remaining from the raids. Apart from this, Rs 26.32 crore has been seized by the Income Tax department. Other than this, more than 1.27 lakh litres of liquor, 26.34 kg of gold, 204 kg of silver and 106kg of ganja has also been seized.
