DMK moves Madras high court to install CCTVs for live telecast of polling
Chennai: The DMK candidate for RK Nagar by-election has approached Madras high court to direct the Election Commission of India to deploy adequate number of CRPF personnel, to install CCTV cameras in all the 968 streets of the constituency and to telecast live-webcasting of polling and counting.
The election is scheduled to be held on December 21. In his petition, DMK candidate N. Maruthu Ganesh also sought a direction to ECI to take effective measures to prevent illegal distribution of money and materials to voters to ensure free and fair poll.
When a division bench comprising Justices T.S. Sivagnanam and K. Ravichandrabaabu commenced their proceedings on Thursday morning, senior counsel P. Wilson made a mention to take up the case early. However, the bench said it would hear the matter on December 18.
According to petitioner, during the previous by-election, ruling AIADMK party indulged in corrupt practices and committed electoral related offences.
After the change of scenario in the ruling party, there were two groups claiming each other as if they were the real party and both groups have fielded their respective candidates, one as “AIADMK Party candidate” and another as “independent candidate”. But, the members and office bearers in various levels in the banner of AIADMK were trying to expose themselves in one way or other in favour of their respective candidates, for which, they indulge in various corrupt activities including illegal distribution of money to voters, he added.
He said physical and verbal clashes are common in many places of the constituency. Though there were CRPF personnel deputed nearly 10 companies in the entire constituency, it was not sufficient to have full control over the constituency. In order to monitor the entire activities installation of CCTV was also required. For each and every streets, CCTV shall be installed, as huge number of outsiders were involved in campaigning activities in support of all candidates.
The ruling party has brought outsiders for the purpose of distributing money to the voters. In order to curb such illegal activities, monitoring through CCTV was necessary.
The process of polling and counting shall be made transparent and everything shall be telecast through live web-casting and also to be recorded through fixed camera, he added.
