SC asks EC to respond to DMK's plea on by-polls in TN on three vacant seats

The Supreme Court Friday asked the Election Commission (EC) to respond to DMK's plea seeking a direction for holding by-elections in three vacant assembly seats in Tamil Nadu.

A bench of Justices S A Bobde and S A Nazeer issued notice to the EC and asked it to file reply within two weeks.

Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) is seeking by-polls for Tiruparankundram, Ottapidaram and Aravakurichi assembly constituencies.

Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for DMK, told the bench that there are 21 vacant assembly seats in the state but the poll panel has notified by-polls for only 18 seats.

He said by-polls on 18 seats are scheduled to be held on April 18 along with the Lok Sabha polls in the state.

"It is a bizzare approach. On 18 vacant seats you (EC) are having by-elections and on three seats you are not having by-elections," Singhvi said.

The EC counsel said that as per his instructions, by-polls for the three seats were not announced as some election petitions were pending in the Madras High Court.

"We (EC) have notified the Lok Sabha elections. By-election (for three seats in Tamil Nadu) can be held later," the EC's counsel said.

When the EC's counsel referred to the pending petitions, Justice Bobde said: "Those election petitions are a bogey. There is nothing in the election petitions. I think there is some poor advice somehwere."
At this juncture, Justice Bobde told Singhvi, "You have such a good case, why you are in a hurry. In two weeks time, do you think voters would turn against you?"