Panchacharam v. The Co-Operative Sub Registrar
BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED : 06.04.2018
CORAM
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE M.S.RAMESH W.P.(MD)No.7307 of 2018 and W.M.P.(MD)No.6996 of 2018 Panchacharam : Petitioner Vs.
1.The Co-operative Sub Registrar, Sivagangai cum Returning Officer for N.N. 580, - Keelavellur Primary Agricultural 2.The Special Officer, N.N. 580 - Keelavellur Primary Agricultural 3.The Inspector of Police, Thiruppuvanam Police Station, : Respondents PRAYER: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying to issue a Writ of Mandamus, directing first respondent to allow the petitioner accompanied by her Advocate to file her nomination papers for the election to the office of the second respondent society and video graph the filing of the nomination papers and the scrutiny of the nomination papers of the petitioner and direct the third respondent to give police protection to the petitioner and her Advocate at the time of filing the nomination, scrutiny of the nomination papers and during the election dated viz., 09.04.2018, 10.04.2018 and 16.04.2018. For Petitioner : Mr.V.Kannan For Respondent No.1 : Mr.U.Karunakaran For Respondents 2 & 3 : Mr.K.Chellapandian Additional Advocate General Assisted by Mr.S.Nagarajan Special Government Pleader
O R D E R
************ The prayer sought for in this writ petition is for a directing first respondent to allow the petitioner accompanied by her Advocate to file her nomination papers for the election to the office of the
second respondent society and video graph the filing of the nomination papers and the scrutiny of the nomination papers of the petitioner and direct the third respondent to give police protection to the petitioner and her Advocate at the time of filing the nomination, scrutiny of the nomination papers and during the election dated viz., 09.04.2018, 10.04.2018 and 16.04.2018. 2.Mr.U.Karunakaran, learned Counsel takes notice for the first respondent and Mr.K.Chellapandia, learned Additional Advocate General, assisted by Mr.S.Nagaraj, learned Special Government Pleader takes notice for the second and third respondents. 3.By consent of both parties, the main writ petition itself is taken up for final disposal at the admission stage itself. 4.Though the petitioner has made various allegations against the respondents in the affidavit, I do not find any evidence to prove such allegations.
5.In view of the fact that the elections are scheduled to be held on 09.04.2018, 10.04.2018 and 16.04.2018 and that the petitioner herein has approached this Court at the last moment, without giving sufficient time for the respondents to get necessary instructions this Court is inclined to point out that free and fair Elections are the cardinal principles of the democratic institutions and as such the respondents cannot deviate the procedures contemplated under the Tamilnadu Co-operative Societies Rules, during the course of conducting the election process. 6.In view of the above, there shall be a direction to the respondents to conduct the elections for the post of the Office bearers of the respondent Society in a fair and transparent manner as per the election schedule announced in the notification, dated 05.03.2018.
7.With the above direction, this writ petition stands disposed of. No Costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petition is closed.
Sd/ Assistant Registrar (AD-II) /True copy/ Sub Assistant Registrar To 1.The Co-operative Sub Registrar, Sivagangai cum Returning Officer for N.N. 580, - Keelavellur Primary Agricultural
2.The Special Officer, N.N. 580 - Keelavellur Primary Agricultural 3.The Inspector of Police, Thiruppuvanam Police Station, +1cc to Mr.V.KANNAN, Advocate, SR.No. 60184 W.P.(MD)No.7307 of 2018 06.04.2018 MR KK/SV MMS/06.04.2018/SAR-4/3P-5C