Stay Madurantakam and Dharapuram byelections, urges plea at Madras High Court

A public interest litigation petition has been filed in the Madras High Court to restrain Election Commission of India (ECI) from conducting byelections in Madurantakam and Dharapuram Assembly constituencies in Tamil Nadu until the disposal of the case which primarily seeks to prevent the practice of MLAs resigning the post only to seek re-election from the same constituencies after joining other political parties.

The case is expected to be listed for hearing before the first Division Bench of Chief Justice Sushrut Arvind Dharmadhikari and Justice G. Arul Murugan next week. Chennai-based advocate K. Suthan had filed the petition seeking introduction of stringent rules so that public money is not wasted because of legislators who resign and seek re-election just to escape proceedings under the anti-defection law.