HC rejects DMK plea for videography of counting

The Madras High Court on Thursday rejected a petition from the DMK for a directive to the election authorities to install video cameras in every counting table and the ARO’s table in all Lok Sabha constituencies in the State.

The party, represented by its Leader in the Lok Sabha T.R. Baalu, said in the petition that protective and effective steps should be taken to plug loopholes and ensure transparency in the counting of votes polled in the elections held on April 24.

He alleged that the Election Commission was not serious about conducting free and fair elections in the State. It ignored the violations of the model code of conduct by the ruling AIADMK.

In its counter, the Special Chief Electoral Officer said all steps would be taken to ensure free and fair elections. The EC framed instructions to ensure accurate and error-free counting. The instructions would be strictly implemented.

As for the plea for videography of each counting table, the counter said it would be difficult to implement it as the process would pose various problems, especially space constraint.

A Vacation Bench of Justices R.Sudhakar and K.K. Sasidharan accepted the counter and the submissions of senior counsel for the Election Commission G. Rajagopalan.