The Kerala High Court on Monday dismissed an election petition challenging the election of Anto Antony Punnathaniyil of the Congress from the Pathanamthitta Lok Sabha constituency.
The petition was filed by R. Unnikrishnan Pillai, a former MLA from Adoor. According to him, Mr. Antony had suppressed the information regarding the ownership of one of his properties in the affidavit filed before the Returning Officer in the Lok Sabha elections in 2009. Non-disclosure of the property had the effect of misleading the voters. It created an impression among the voters that he did not have enough wealth.
The petitioner sought to declare Mr. Antony's election as void on the ground of non-compliance with the provisions of the Representation of People Act.
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Mr. Antony defeated his nearest rival K. Ananthagopan of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) by a margin of 1,11,206 votes.
In his affidavit, Mr. Antony said he had sold off the 8.60 acres of land in Moonilavu village and transferred it to a third party in 2008, well before the elections.
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A Bench comprising Chief Justice J. Chelameswar and Justice P.R. Ramachandran Menon on Monday adjourned by two weeks the hearing on a writ petition challenging the appointment of Siby Mathews, former Director-General of Police, as Chief Information Commissioner.
The petition was filed by K.V. Gopinath of Malappuram. According to him, Mr. Mathew was incompetent to be appointed as Chief Information Commissioner. The appointing committee should have taken note of serious allegations levelled against Mr. Mathew, he said.
Direction to file statement
A Bench comprising Justice A.K. Basheer and Justice P.Q. Barkath Ali has directed the State government to file a statement showing the extent of the estate in the possession of K.P. Yohannan, president of the Gospel for Asia, at Erumeli in Kottayam.
The court issued the directive on a writ petition challenging the proceedings initiated to take over the land. The Bench also directed the government to give the details about the land ceiling case pending before the Taluk Land Board.
Bail rejected
Justice V. Ramakumar on Monday dismissed the bail applications filed by Sandeep Gopal and Jithu, accused in a rape case.
According to the prosecution case, they had taken a woman in a car promising to arrange admission to an engineering college and raped her.