Inform about time needed for local body polls:Madras HC to SEC

The Madras High Court today directed the State Election Commission (SEC) to get instructions from authorities concerned and inform it as to the exact time required to conduct local body elections, which was cancelled in October 2016, following its order.
On October 4, 2016, a single judge bench set aside the September 26, 2016 election notification issued by the SEC citing non-compliance of Tamil Nadu Panchayat (Elections) Rules, 1995, following which the polls scheduled for October 17 and 19 were cancelled.
The SEC moved an appeal against the single judge's order.
However, noting that the election process has already cancelled, the division bench comprising justices Nooty Ramamohana Rao and S M Subramaniam suggested the SEC to issue fresh notification.

The bench also asked senior counsel for SEC B Kumar as to the time required to conduct the elections.
When Kumar said that the Commission would conduct the elections by April, the bench intervened and sought to know why such a long time is required.
When Kumar submitted that he would get instructions from the authorities on the matter.
Accepting his request, the Bench posted the plea to January 31 for further hearing.