Civic polls: HC direction to SEC on submission of papers

The Madras High Court today directed the Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department and Tamil Nadu State Election Commission to take a decision relating to submission of nomination papers online by aspiring candidates in the coming local body polls.
G Kumar, a Congress worker and State Convener of Rajiv Gandhi Panchayat Raj Sangatan, had filed a PIL seeking, among other prayers, a direction to the State Election Commission to facilitate submission of nomination papers of candidates online.
He also sought a direction to upload manually submitted nominations and affidavits of all candidates contesting for the posts of local bodies in the official website of the Tamil Nadu State Election Commission (TNSEC), besides using EVMs.

When the PIL came up, the First Bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice R Mahadevan, said, "The issue of EVMs is already sub-judice as the Second Bench has reserved orders on several pleas seeking its use for local body polls.
"The other two aspects on which representation has been made by petitioner in connection with submission of nomination papers, monitoring polling booths with CCTV cameras in respect of elections to be held, we call upon Secretary, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department and TNSEC to take a decision on the same before elections are announced."
In his petition, Kumar also sought a direction to authorities to ensure 50 per cent reservation for women candidates for contesting posts in local bodies "as amended from 33 per cent to 50 per cent as per the Tamil Nadu Government Gazette notification dated February 27 this year."

Disposing of the PIL, the First Bench said once notification has been issued for elections, reservation has to be provided to women as per the gazette notification and "it is for authorities concerned to take necessary steps in respect thereof".