HC trashes PIL on postponement of Satara Lok Sabha election

Observing that it cannot interfere in election process, the Bombay High Court today dismissed a PIL seeking postponement of Satara Lok Sabha election following NCP chief Sharad Pawar's "ink" and "double voting" remark.

A division bench headed by Justice Abhay Oka refused to grant any relief to activist Praveen Wategaonkar who has filed the PIL seeking deferring the April 17 polls.

The court, while dismissing the petition, observed that it cannot direct the Election Commission of India to change or postpone poll dates.

The petition prayed that election on the scheduled date in Satara be postponed to April 24 when constituencies of Mumbai, Thane are going to polls on April 24 owing to Pawar's impugned remarks.

Pawar had recently told a rally of mathadi workers (head loaders) in Navi Mumbai to "vote twice" by taking advantage of multi-phase polls in Maharashtra "by removing the indelible link put to their forefingers".

"Last time (in 2009), the polling in Satara and Mumbai was on the same day and people went to their hometowns. But this time, polling in Satara is on April 17 and here on April 24," Pawar had said.

After his remarks caused an uproar, Pawar clarified that he made the remarks in "a lighter vein and they had a tinge of satire".

A criminal case was filed against Pawar in a magistrate's court in this regard, which will be heard on April 15.