Orders reserved on plea seeking to defer LS polls in Madurai

A division bench comprising Justice S Manikumar and Justice Subramonium Prasad on observing that like worship being considered a duty and right, voting should also be viewed as a fundamental duty, posted the pleas to Friday for orders.

S Parthasarathy of TVS Nagar in Madurai had contended that the Chitirai festival draws large crowds and is bound to adversely impact the voting percentage as the voters in Madurai and nearby districts will not be able to exercise their franchise.

Similarly, the pleas by TNBC and CNI had contended that thousands of people will visit the churches on Maundy Thursday, and it will be mutually incompatible, both for security concern as well as religious activity on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday.

However, advocate Niranjan Rajagopal appearing for the Election Commission of India (ECI) submitted that regards Madurai Parliamentary Constituency, the Commissioner of Police has categorically held that it will be possible to conduct smooth, free and fair election on April 18 with the additional deployment of Central Armed Police Force, personnel in 33 polling stations which are near the Cart route and the Alagar route.

Similarly, the District Election Officer has also recommended extension of polling by two hours in 112 polling stations in 33 identified vulnerable polling locations. Besides this extension of two hours’ time, all eligible electors standing in queue at the closure of time fixed for the poll will be permitted to vote as per the norms of allowing last voter to vote, Niranjan added. As regards Maundy Thursday, the ECI’s counsel in a common counter submitted that while conduct of elections in no manner infringes any one’s right to religion or worship, suitable steps are being taken to ensure that, administrative aspects surrounding elections will be conducted without hindrance to access to any place of worship.

He also reiterated that suitable security measures will be taken to manage the situation and see to that elections also happen peacefully.