Chennai: Madras high court has ordered notices in two election petitions challenging the victories of now-quit MLA C Vijayabaskar from the Viralimalai constituency and AIADMK MLA Leemarose Martin from the Lalgudi constituency in the recently held assembly elections.Judge N Senthilkumar, before whom the petitions came up on July 10, directed the petitioners to rectify defects in their election petitions within a week and ordered the issuance of notices to the respondents after rectification. The matters have been posted after three weeks.The petition filed by DMK candidate Chellapandiyan K K against Vijayabaskar’s election alleges that he distributed coupons to voters promising refrigerators and cash of ₹10,000 and ₹2,000. The petitioner has sought to have Vijayabaskar’s election declared void under the Representation of the People Act, 1951, and has also sought a declaration that he be declared the duly elected candidate from the Viralimalai constituency.In a separate election petition challenging the election of Leemarose Martin from the Lalgudi constituency, petitioner T Parivallal alleged that the MLA suppressed material information in her nomination papers. The petitioner’s counsel submitted that Martin had failed to disclose that she was a director and shareholder in seven companies, including Martin Farms Private Limited, LMS Builders and Engineers Private Limited, Martin Housing Private Limited and Hall Marc Hospitality Private Limited, among others. The petitioner has sought to have her election declared illegal and void.The court permitted private notice to the respondents in both cases and directed that the petitions be listed after three weeks following compliance with the procedural requirements.
