CHENNAI: Rejecting all the interim prayers of the DMK, PMK and sitting Mayor M Subramanian relating to conduct of election to the local bodies on October 17, the Madras High Court on Wednesday permitted the State Election Commission (SEC) to go ahead with counting of the votes as scheduled on October 21.The SEC could declare the results and issue certificates to the successful candidates. But, the same would be subject to the outcome of the writ pleas challenging the polls, a division bench comprising Justice D Murugesan and KK Sasidharan said,The bench was passing interim orders on the pleas from DMK legal wing secretary RS Bharathi, sitting Mayor M Subramanian and PMK mayoral candidate AK Moorthy. While the first two petitioners prayed for repoll in 239 booths and sought to restrain the SEC from counting the votes polled, the third petitioner prayed for a fresh poll for all wards.The bench said that the SEC could proceed with the repolling to the seven booths in the city, as announced by it on Oct 18.While issuing the certificates to the elected candidates, the SEC should make an endorsement to the effect that such declaration would be subject to the result of the writ petitions.The bench made it clear that the elected councillors and Mayor should not claim, as a matter of right, to continue in the posts in the event of this court allowing the pleas. Granting three weeks time to the SEC to file counter, the bench posted the matter for hearing on November 9. Passing interim orders on another writ plea, the bench directed the SEC to produce the videograph recorded in respect of the booths in the city in a sealed cover to the HC Registrar-General by Friday.The bench also made it clear that its order was only an interim measure. The issues relating to non-compliance of its earlier orders passed on October 14 and the allegation of booth capturing and rigging could be decided at the final hearing, the bench added.
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