G.GEETHA Vs. STATE ELECTION COMMISSION

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The State Election Commission/1st respondent has issued Notification, dated 7.12.2019 announcing Local Body Election 2019 in 27 Districts of Tamil Nadu for various posts in the respective local bodies. The polling was to take place in two phases, on 27.12.2019 and 30.12.2019.

(2.) As per the Notification, the counting of votes polled in respective booths has been scheduled to take place on 02.01.2020. The entire conduct of election is regulated by the Tamil Nadu Panchayats (Election ) Rules, 1995 framed under the Tamil Nadu Panchayats Act, 1994.

(3.) These Writ Petitions have been filed by various petitioners uniformly raising certain apprehensions as to whether the counting which is going to take place on 02.01.2020 would meet the strict standards contemplated in 'Part-VI-(Counting of Votes)' of Tamil Nadu Panchayats (Election) Rules, 1995, particularly, with reference to Rules 60 to 69.