The Madras High Court on Thursday ordered notice to the Returning Officer of R.K. Nagar Assembly constituency, with a copy to all contestants including Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, on an election petition filed by an Independent candidate G. Pravina.
The petitioner alleged that the Returning Officer refused her permission to campaign for the Assembly election. The authorities also turned down her request to use vehicles for campaigning, she alleged and added that the ‘Pot’ symbol allotted to her was not provided as per the specifications of the Election Commission’s The Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order. Though she complained about this to the Election Commission on May 15, no action was taken.
Alleging that the act of officials in not processing her complaints amounts to violation of her right to equality enshrined under the Constitution, the petitioner prayed the court to nullify the election result in the constituency and order for a fresh poll.
Justice M. Duraiswamy ordered notices to the respondents returnable by September 16.
