JMC opposition leader’s election challenged

The Court of Appeal fixed for support on August 3 the writ petition challenging the election of Jaffna Municipal Council (JMC) opposition leader V. Manivannan.

The bench comprised justices Padman Surasena (President/ca) and Arjuna Obeysekera.

Petitioner and JMC voter, Stephenson Ronoldan cited opposition leader Visvalingam Manivannan, the returning officer, JMC Commissioner, the JMC and the Elections Commission as respondents.

M.A. Sumanthiran appeared for the petitioner while V. Puvitharan PC with N. Kandeepan and M. Jude Dinesh appeared for Mr. Manivannan.

When the counsel appearing for the petitioner moved to support for notice and interim order, the counsel appearing for Mr. Manivannan said factual matters had been suppressed and pleaded that additional documents be filed. Court ruled the respondent to file limited objections on or before July 25. However, the petitioner may file counter objection if any.

The petitioner said Mr. Manivannan was nominated as a candidate to the JMC proportional list by the All Ceylon Tamil Congress (ACTC).

He said Mr. Manivannan was disqualified from being elected to or sitting or voting as a council member because he was not a resident of the JMC electoral area.

He said Mr. Manivannan had cast his vote at Kokuvil West at the last local authority elections, whereas he had listed ‘Ramanathan Road in Jaffna’ as his residential address in the ACTC nomination paper.