HC dismisses independents’ pleas

A two-judge panel of the Telangana High Court comprising Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice J. Anil Kumar dismissed three writ petitions challenging the rejection of nominations of independent candidates. Veerabrahma Ravi filed a plea against the returning officer rejecting his nomination paper for the Nalgonda parliamentary constituency. Senior counsel Avinash Reddy, appearing for the Election Commission of India, stated that the petitioner was in the electoral roll of the Musheerabad Assembly segment, and filed a defective electoral roll. An opportunity was offered to the petitioner which he failed to avail. Neither the petitioner nor his representative was present during the scrutiny of the nomination papers. Avinash Reddy said the extract of the certified electoral roll filed by the petitioner did not contain the serial number and EPIC number. In a similar matter the panel dismissed a writ plea filed by Kallu Narsimulu Goud challenging the rejection of his nomination for the Medak parliamentary constituency. He said was a resident of the Patencheru Assembly segment which fell in the Medak constituency and his nomination was rejected on the ground that names of the 10 proposers did not tally with the electoral rolls. Senior counsel appearing for ECI stated that the serial number and the ward number mentioned by the proposers did not tally with the electoral rolls. In another matter, the panel dismissed the writ petition filed by Shaik Toufeeq challenging the rejection of his nomination as an independent candidate for the Malkajgiri parliamentary constituency on the ground that the serial number of Proposer No. 6 was incorrect. He contended that by an oversight instead of Serial No. 719 the proposer wrote Serial No. 791. The ECI said that neither the petitioner nor his representative was present during the scrutiny of the paper.

JAIL FOR TN OFFICIAL FOR CONTEMPT

Justice Sree Sudha of the Telangana High Court sentenced the assistant director, requirement, Mount Road, Tamil Nadu, to one month of civil imprisonment for violating a court order. The judge was dealing with a contempt petition filed by TM Inputs and Services Private Limited. Earlier, the court directed the Union of India to make the payment as per the award passed by the Micro and Small Enterprises Facilitation Council (MSEFC) along with interest. The Centre paid the principal amount and refused to pay interest stating that the High Court had directed them to deposit only the balance. It also contended that they had filed an appeal before the Supreme Court which was pending. Mayur Mundra, counsel for the petitioner, said a clarification was sought in the High Court which confirmed the order of payment of balance amount along with interest within two months. The court was informed of the appeal filed before the Supreme Court being dismissed.

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