Chennai: Madras high court on Monday ordered the release of the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) used in the election to the Perambur constituency, from where chief minister C Joseph Vijay was elected in the 2026 assembly election. Justice V Lakshminarayanan passed the order on an application moved by the Election Commission of India (ECI), stating that the voting machines used for the election needs to be serviced.Since the counting of votes or the EVMs used in the constituency are not the subject matter of the election petitions challenging the election of Vijay, no purpose will be served by retaining the EVMs. Therefore, the ECI may take back the EVMs and symbol loading units, it said.Allowing the application, the court passed the order. Later, the court commenced the hearing of an application filed by Vijay seeking to reject an election petition filed by S Dinesh, a voter from Perambur challenging his election.Representing Vijay, senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan contended that the allegations in the election petition that Vijay has failed to make a full disclosure of his assets and liabilities are baseless. Recording the submissions, the court adjourned the hearing to Tuesday.
