Preserve CCTV recording of counting in Karur and Salem, HC directs TNSEC 

Justice M Sathyanarayanan passed the interim order while hearing DMK’s plea seeking a direction to the election authorities to immediately declare results were counting was concluded. DMK’s senior counsel NR Elango asked the court to direct the election official to conduct recounting of votes polled inSalem and Karur.

Countering this, senior counsel ARL Sundaresan appearing for TNSEC said that the petitioner cannot ask for the recounting of votes via this petition and they should submit an election petition. He also refuted the allegation made by the petitioner that results are not declared by returning officers.

After hearing the arguments, Justice Sathyanarayanan asked why not the Commission produce few samples of CCTV footages to the court to verify the allegations?

Responding to the question, Sundaresan said that the Commission may be permitted to first file its response and then if needed the court may order production of the footages. Following this, the plea was adjourned for further hearingto January 20.

Earlier, as directed the TNSEC filed an affidavit, which stated that the allegation by the DMK that results are not being declared by the Returning Officers (ROs) in places where DMK is winning are not correct as the they have declared the result of winning candidate then and there as per the rules immediately after the counting is over. No specific reports have been received from the districts that results have been withheld in respect of the winning candidates, TNSEC’s affidavit said.

It was also submitted that the representation made by the DMK president MK Stalin regarding the issue, appropriate instructions to RO’s all over the state is premature since counting process is at various stages and the officers were following due procedure and the complaints received from Stalin has been addressed and orally repliedthen and there.