U.S. apex court intervenes in poll battle

By Sridhar Krishnaswami

WASHINGTON, NOV. 25. The United States Supreme Court will decide the legal battle for presidency between the Texas Governor, Mr. George W. Bush, and the Vice-President, Mr. Al Gore.

Apparently, at least four out of nine judges have felt that federal issues were involved in the ongoing standoff. ``The petition for a writ of certiorari is granted,'' the court said in its order on Friday afternoon. It will hear oral arguments for 90 minutes on December 1 - five days after the Florida Secretary of State, Ms. Katherine Harris, certifies the election result as directed by the State Supreme Court in a unanimous ruling earlier this week.

The U.S. Supreme Court will hear two contentions of Mr. Bush. First, the Florida Supreme Court erred in limiting the discretion of the Secretary of State to certify the results within a stipulated time. Secondly, whether the State Supreme Court violated the federal Constitution and the federal law by allowing handcounted ballots for inclusion in the vote totals.

Another challenge by the Texas Governor that appealed a federal judge's ruling to allow the handcounts to continue was rejected.

The Gore campaign will also argue that the Florida Supreme Court did notchange the Florida law and that it was merely interpreting the statutes.

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