JACOB MATHEW Vs. THE SUB INSPECTOR OF POLICE

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioners, who are the President and Vice President respectively of the previous Managing Committee of Angadi Service Co-operative Bank Ltd. No.2770, who are also the candidates in the election to the Managing Committee of the Bank scheduled to be held on 14.12.2017, are before this Court in this writ petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, seeking a writ of mandamus commanding respondents 1 to 4 to comply with the direction contained in Ext.P8 Circular No.28/2013 dated 20.11.2013 issued by the State Police Chief, by ensuring smooth conduct of the election to the Managing Committee of the Bank scheduled to be held on 14.12.2017. The petitioners have also sought for other consequential reliefs.

(2.) On 11.12.2017, when this writ petition came up for admission, the learned Government Pleader sought time to get instructions and accordingly the matter was ordered to be listed today.

(3.) Today, when the case is taken up for further consideration, the learned Government Pleader on instructions would submit that for the smooth conduct of the polling and counting of votes, the Returning Officer, the 6th respondent herein, has submitted a report of the Station House officer, the 1st respondent herein, on 7.12.2017 seeking police assistance. The learned Government Pleader would also submit that the 6th respondent-Returning Officer shall take necessary steps to compare the identity card of the voters issued by the Bank with Form 6B Register before issuing Ballot papers to the voters. As per the instructions received, it is not technically possible to make arrangements for video recording of the entire polling process on 14.12.2017 and the petitioners may make necessary arrangement for video recording, at their own expenses.