Chennai, Oct 8 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Madras High Court has deferred to October 14 its judgment on a petition filed by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay seeking dismissal of an election case challenging his victory from the Perambur Assembly constituency.
Justice V. Lakshminarayanan heard arguments on CM Vijay's plea to reject the election petition filed by Dinesh, a voter in the Assembly constituency.
Vijay won the Perambur seat by a margin of 53,715 votes.
During the hearing, counsel representing the Chief Minister said that CM Vijay had disclosed all the required particulars in his nomination papers and had not suppressed any information.
CM Vijay's side sought dismissal of the challenge to his election.
Opposing the plea, Dinesh's counsel alleged that CM Vijay had failed to disclose agricultural land worth Rs 30 crore purchased in Panruti.
The petitioner said that withholding such information could interfere with voters' ability to make an informed and independent electoral choice.
The petitioner's side cited a Madras High Court judgment concerning the influence that suppression of information in nomination papers could have on voters.
It added that the allegations warranted examination through an election petition.
Arguments also referred to a 50-cent parcel of land in Vilpatti village in Kodaikanal.
The petitioner's counsel contended that revenue department records classified the disputed parcel as government surplus land, raising questions about the ownership claim discussed during the proceedings.
Dinesh's side also said that concealing criminal cases in nomination papers amounted not merely to a breach of the law but also to a corrupt practice.
These submissions formed part of its opposition to CM Vijay's request for dismissal.
The counsel contended that a returning officer could not conduct a comprehensive investigation into allegations of suppressed information while scrutinising nomination papers.
A detailed examination of such issues was possible only through an election case, the petitioner's side said.
Intervening during the submissions, Justice Lakshminarayanan asked whether an encroacher was barred from contesting an election and whether encroachment would attract disqualification.
The judge also asked whether CM Vijay had submitted a sale deed concerning the Vilpatti land along with his nomination papers.
The court will pronounce its judgment on October 14 on CM Vijay's application for dismissal.
The arguments concern whether the election challenge should proceed; the allegations raised by the petitioner remain contested by the Chief Minister's side, which maintains that all necessary disclosures were made.
Source: IANS
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