ROY ABRAHAM Vs. KERALA STATE ELECTION COMMISSION

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioner has approached this Court impugning Ext.P7 order issued by the Kerala State Election Commission, Thiruvananthapuram, (hereinafter referred to as 'the Election Commission' for short), as per which, two Original Petitions, numbered as O.P.Nos.16/2019 and 17/2019, both filed by the 2 nd respondent herein, were directed to be jointly tried.

(2.) The petitioner asserts that the Election Commission does not have the power to jointly trial two different Original Petitions; and further that the factual circumstances and allegations in each of these Original Petitions are distinct and separate and thus that a joint trial would amount to a travesty of justice. The petitioner, therefore, prays that Ext.P7 order be set aside.

(3.) The learned counsel appearing for the 2 nd respondent submits that though his client had made an application for joint trial before the Election Commission, he does not mind if the Original Petitions are disposed of together or separately. He says that all that his client wants is that the said Original Petitions be disposed of at the earliest.