Issue of candidates' disqualification pending in SC: ASG to HC

The Madras High Court was today informed that the matter with regard to the disqualification of candidates facing allegations of distribution of money in the November 19 polls was pending before the Supreme Court which had referred it to a Constitutional Bench.
Additional Solicitor General (ASG) of India G Rajagopalan, appearing on behalf of the Election Commission (EC), submitted this before the court when a batch of pleas, seeking to forbear the EC from allotting the poll symbols of the AIADMK and the DMK to Senthil Balaji (AIADMK), KC Palaniswamy (DMK) and M Rangaswamy (AIADMK), the first two contesting from Aravakurichi and the third from Thanjavur Assembly constituency, came up for hearing.

The court recorded the submission.
On the orders passed earlier by the EC, cancelling the elections to the two constituencies following the seizure of a huge amount of money and corrupt practices, the court said, mere cancellation will give a license to the candidates to contest again.
The ASG submitted that once polls were cancelled, there was no question of calling for the accounts from the candidates.
To this, the court wanted to know whether there will be no action if the candidates exceeded the permissible limit of expenditure in poll campaigning.

The ASG submitted that notices with regard to allegations of seizure of money etc. Had been issued to the parties concerned on May 19 and they too had submitted their replies.

When the court asked how much time would it take to conclude the proceedings, the ASG sought time in order to obtain instructions from the EC and inform it.
The court then posted the matter for further hearing to November 14.
The polls are scheduled to be held on November 19.