KOCHI: The Election Commission has stated that the petition filed by Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala seeking the intervention of the court in connection with the malpractices of the postal ballots of police officials is legally not tenable. In an affidavit filed in the High Court the commission stated that no complaints were received from any police officials regarding malpractices in the postal ballots.
The affidavit also stated that a Crime Branch investigation under the supervision of an official in the rank of inspector general of police is already on and at this juncture another independent probe is not warranted. The election process should not face any hurdles after the commencement of the election process. The affidavit has also stated that the High Court is not having the power to intervene in the election related process when the election process is on. In case of any malpractices found the persons concerned are entitled to file a petition after the announcement of the verdict. The court then can direct for proceeding with prosecution measures against the guilty.
The court has posted the petition for further hearing on Monday. The opposition leader has sought a probe by an independent agency in issue connected with malpractices in the postal ballots of police officials. He also sought the recall of the postal ballots issued to the police officials.
