HC dismisses PIL seeking cancellation of polling in TN

Madras High Court today dismissed a PIL that sought cancellation of polling held in the 39 Lok Sabha constituencies in Tamil Nadu on April 24, holding that the charge of bribing voters by ruling AIADMK was based on media reports and the court had no jurisdiction to deal with such matters.
Petitioner P Dhamayanthi, an advocate, had alleged that ruling partymen distributed money to voters and the Chief Electoral Officer himself had acknowledged that money was distributed to voters ahead of April 24 polling.
Dismissing the PIL, a vacation bench comprising Justice S Manikumar and Justice T S Sivagnanam said the court had no jurisdiction to deal with such matters.

"The petitioner's case rests upon certain press reports published in various magazines and newspapers. They alone cannot be the basis for declaring elections unconstitutional. No relief can be granted," the judges said.