HC disposes petition seeking deployment of CRPF in Srirangam

The Madras High Court disposed of a petition filed by a DMK candiate for Srirangam assembly bypoll seeking deployment of CRPF personnel and appointment of impartial officials for conducting the election, saying the Election Commission is fully geared to ensure a free and fair poll.
The candidate N Anand submitted that several malpractices were taking place in the constituency, going to polls tomorrow, and money were being distributed for voters and it could be checked only by deploying CRPF personnel and appointing impartial officials.
The First Bench, comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice M M Sundresh, recorded the submissions of the Additional Solicitor General, appearing for the Election Commission, that 15 teams of flying squad, 12 Static Surveillance Teams and 12 Video Surveillance Teams have been formed for monitoring and curbing distribution of money, gifts and liquor to voters.

The bench said "we have no doubt that the measures taken by the Election Commission, which has held elections all over the country while the present election is for only one constituency, is fully geared to ensure a free and fair poll.
The bench had earlier directed the Additional Solicitor General of the ECI to file a report on the actions taken to prevent illegalities in the election process.
Additional Solicitor General G Rajagopalan submitted that 50 special squads manned exclusively by Central Armed Police Force personnel have already been been deployed and 2657 personnel, including 10 companies of Central Armed Police Force, have been deployed for the polling day.

"A 24X7 control room has been set up at the Chief Electoral Officer's office for registering complaints from the public", he submitted, adding the polling would be video recorded.
Police observer and Expenditure observer were also appointed. The entire counting process will also be video graphed.
The bench, after recording the submissions, said the "Election Commission is fully geared to ensure a free and fair election" and disposed the petition.