Order on pleas seeking to change election dates

The Madras High Court (MHC) on Thursday reserved its order on pleas seeking to change election dates in the state citing religious festivals – Maundy Thursday and Chithirai festival that falls on April 18.

A batch of Public Interest Litigations (PIL) was filed in the MHC seeking to reschedule polls in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry on April 18 as it coincided with Maundy Thursday and the popular Chitirai Festival.

When the case came up for hearing, the Election Commission told the court it extended the polling duration by two hours in Madurai constituency due to the “Chitirai Festival” and that they cannot change the Polling dates for the constituency as it would hamper the election process.

Madras High Court reserves order pleas seeking to change election dates

 

Regarding the petition was filed by TN Bishop’s council, the EC told the court that all arrangements will be made for the smooth functioning of church services on that day.

Letter to the EC seeking a change in election dates

On March 14, the TN Bishop Council wrote a letter to the EC seeking a change in election dates. The letter stated that Christian teachers would not be able to attend service that day and many of the polling stations were in schools inside church campuses.

Citing that churches often hold service in the open ground, the bishop claimed that it would be inconvenient for people to come to churches and make arrangements for religious services on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. Tamil Nadu and Puducherry are slated to go to polls on April 18.

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