HC admits DMK petition against postal votes

Senior Counsel P Wilson appearing for the DMK submitted that by using the impugned rules, large number of “absentee voters” will be added to the electoral rolls, which are currently being prepared for the elections to be held in April 2021 in Tamil Nadu.

“Since the impugned rules do not prescribe any method of age verification, many voters are likely to claim themselves to be 65 years and for that matter 80 years of age and register for postal ballots thereby leading to large scale tampering of votes,” Wilson told the court while seeking to stay the impugned notification.

He also submitted that allowing such postal ballots will affect the secrecy of ballot which is a vital principle for ensuing free and fair elections. Moreover, due to lack of transparency and prohibition in identifying voters and their genuineness by the political parties during elections, over 15 per cent voters would skip the polling booths and political audit, he added. However, the division bench comprising Justice R Subbiah and Justice C Saravanan before whom the plea came on being told that a connected matter is coming up before the bench on January 7, adjourned the case to such date under the caption “For Admission.” 

Chances are there for irregularities if postal votes are allowed for senior citizens above 80 years and so the decision should be withdrawn, said CPI state secretary R Mutharasan in Thanjavur on Wednesday. Speaking to reporters after the Thanjavur district committee meeting, Mutharasan said, the Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami should take back his words that the Farm Bill does not affect the farmers as it is harmful for the farmers not only in Tamil Nadu but also in the entire country. “It is time, the CM should change his mind set on this issue,” he stressed.