R.Gopi v. The Tamil Nadu State Election Commissioner

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED: 08.01.2020

CORAM:

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE M.DURAISWAMY AND THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE T.RAVINDRAN and W.M.P(MD)No.194 of 2020 R.Gopi ... Petitioner Vs.

1.The Tamil Nadu State Election Commission, Jawaharlal Nehru Road, Koyembedu, Chennai - 600 106.

2.The District Collector, Office of the District Collector, Trichy District, Trichirappalli.

3.The Election Officer / Block Development Officer, Lalgudi Union, Trichy District.

4.J.Dinesh ... Respondents PRAYER: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, to issue a Writ of Declaration, to declare the result of the election of the returned candidate, the fourth respondent herein as President of Maruthur Village Panchayat, Lalgudi Union, Trichirappalli District as null and void and unconstitutional and against the Tamil Nadu Panachayat Act and Tamil Nadu Panchayat Election Rules and consequently direct the respondents 1 to 3 to conduct the re-election for the post of President of Maruthur Village Panchayat, Lalgudi Union, Tirchirappalli District. For Petitioner : Mr.Y.Krishnan For R - 1 : Mr.Raja Karthikeyan 1/3

For RR 2 & 3 : Mr.K.Chellapandian, Additional Advocate General.

Assisted by Mr.VR.Shanmuganathan, Special Government Pleader.

ORDER

(Order of the Court was made by M.DURAISWAMY,J.) The petitioner has filed the above Writ Petition to issue a Writ of Declaration, to declare the result of the election of the returned candidate, the fourth respondent herein as President of Maruthur Village Panchayat, Lalgudi Union, Trichirappalli District as null and void and unconstitutional and against the Tamil Nadu Panachayat Act and Tamil Nadu Panchayat Election Rules and consequently directing the respondents 1 to 3 to conduct the reelection for the said post. 2.The petitioner has filed the above Writ Petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India without exhausting the alternate remedy available to him under Section 258 of the Tamil Nadu Panchayats Act, 1994. That apart, the issues involved in the present Writ Petition are the matter of evidence, which cannot be decided in the Writ Petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India.

3.Since the petitioner has got alternate remedy by way of an Election Petition, we are not inclined to entertain the Writ Petition. Accordingly, the Writ Petition is dismissed. No costs. Consequently, connected Miscellaneous Petition is closed. Sd/- Assistant Registrar(Records) // True Copy // / /2020 Sub Assistant Registrar(CS) ps To 1.The District Collector, Office of the District Collector, Trichy District, Trichirappalli.

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2.The Election Officer / Block Development Officer, Lalgudi Union, Trichy District.

+1 CC to M/s.RAJA,KARTHIKEYAN, Advocate ( SR-1072[F] dated 09/01/2020 ) +1 CC to M/s.SPL.GP ( SR-1216[F] dated 09/01/2020 ) +1 CC to M/s.Y.KRISHNAN, Advocate ( SR-1282[F] dated 10/01/2020 ) 08.01.2020 PK(CO) TR(24.01.2020)3P 6C 3/3