1 BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED: 13.10.2011 CORAM: THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE K.N.BASHA AND THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE M.VENUGOPAL Writ Petition (MD)No.11734 of 2011 R.Pandia Nedumaran ... Petitioner Vs. 1.The District Election Officer cum District Collector, Virudhunagar District. 2.The Chief Election Commissioner, Tamil Nadu State, Tamil Nadu. ... Respondent Writ Petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying for issuance of a Writ of mandamus directing the respondents to shift the local body election polling booth of M.Pudhukulam village from the Koravaikulam Village to Alagapuri Village for Alagapuri Panchayat constituency. For Petitioner : Mr.R.Ramadurai For Respondents: Mr.K.Mahendran, Spl.Govt.Pleader. O R D E R [Order of the Court was made BY K.N.BASHA, J] The petitioner has come forward with this writ petition seeking for a direction to the respondents to shift the local body election polling booth of M.Pudhukulam village from the Koravaikulam Village to Alagapuri Village for Alagapuri Panchayat constituency. 2.Mr.K.Mahendran, learned Special Government Pleader, takes notice for the respondents. By mutual consent, the writ petition itself is taken up for final hearing at the stage of admission itself. 3.Learned counsel for the petitioner would submit that the petitioner has filed this writ petition in public interest as the interest of the entire villagers of M.Pudukulam, consisting of 60 voters, is involved in this matter. It is contended that the petitioner's village, namely M.Pudukulam village, is coming under Alagapuri Panchayat Constituency and previously, polling booth for M.Pudukulam voters was at Alagapuri and now the same is shifted to Koravaikulam, as a result of which the voters in M.Pudukulam have to go a long way to cast their votes, which would cause great hardship to the voters. In such view of the difficulty in exercising their voting rights in the forthcoming local body elections, the petitioner has approached this Court with this writ petition with the aforesaid prayer. https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/ 2 4.Mr.K.Mahendran, learned Special Government Pleader, would submit that already election process has commenced and even the booth shifting process is also over and in such circumstances, the petitioner has no right to seek interference in the election process. 5.We have considered the rival submissions and perused the affidavit and other materials available on record. 6.It is seen that the petitioner is having grievance about the shifting of polling booth from Alagapuri to Koravaikulam village, which is situated 8 kilometres away from their village. The fact remains that the election process has already commenced and the election is to be held on 17.10.2011. As a matter of fact, it is brought to the notice of this Court that even booth shifting was also over much earlier. In view of the same, we are unable to see any ground to interfere in the matter. Accordingly, the writ petition stands dismissed. No costs. Sd/- Deputy Registrar (Accounts) /True Copy/ Assistant Registrar To: 1.The District Election Officer cum District Collector, Virudhunagar District. 2.The Chief Election Commissioner, Tamil Nadu State, Tamil Nadu. + 1 cc to Mr.R.Ramadurai, Advocate, SR No.35426 + 1 cc to The Special Government Pleader, SR No.35857 ORDER IN WP(MD)No.11734/2011 Dated:13.10.2011 gb RJ/1.11.11 2p/5c https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/