IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT : THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE S.SIRI JAGAN & THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE ANTONY DOMINIC WEDNESDAY, THE 15TH APRIL 2009 / 25TH CHAITHRA 1931 WP(C).No. 12365 of 2009(M) -------------------------- PETITIONER: --------------- MULLAPPALLI RAMACHANDRAN, S/O.GOPALAN, AGED 65 YEARS, CHOMBALA, AZHIYOOR AMSOM, CHOMBALA DESOM, VATAKARA, KOZHIKODE DISTRICT. BY ADV. MR. BABU JOSEPH KURUVATHAZHA RESPONDENTS: --------------- 1. THE CHIEF ELECTION COMMISSIONER, ELECTION COMMISSION OF INDIA, NIRVACHAN SADAN, ASOKA ROAD, NEW DELHI. 2. THE CHIEF ELECTORAL OFFICER, STATE OF KERALA, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. 3. THE RETURNING OFFICER, VATAKARA PARLIAMENTARY CONSTITUENCY (DISTRICT COLLECTOR), CIVIL STATION, KOZHIKODE. 4. THE DIRECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE, POLICE HEAD QUARTERS, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. 5. THE INSPECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE, NORTHERN RANGE, KANNUR. 6. THE SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE, KANNUR. 7. THE SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE, KOZHIKODE RURAL, VATAKARA. ADV. MR. MURALI PURUSHOTHAMAN, SC,ELE.COMMN. FOR R1 TO 3 ADDL.DGP MR. K.K. RAVINDRANATH FOR R4 TO 7 THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 15/04/2009, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: S. SIRI JAGAN AND ANTONY DOMINIC, JJ. ------------------------------------------------- W.P.(C). No.12365 OF 2009 -------------------------------------------------- Dated this the 15th day of April, 2009 J U D G M E N T Antony Dominic, J. The petitioner, a candidate contesting at the Vadakara Parliamentary Constituency, has filed this writ petition praying for directing the respondents to ensure that law and order is maintained at all places of the constituency in order to ensure that the election scheduled to be held on 16.4.2009 is free and fair. 2. When the matter was taken up for admission, we heard the standing counsel appearing for respondents 1 to 3 and also the Additional Director General of Prosecution on behalf of respondents 4 to 7. 3. The standing counsel for respondents 1 to 3 on instructions submitted that in the Vadakara Parliamentary Constituency they have identified 136 booths, which are located at 106 locations, as vulnerable. In respect of the aforesaid 136 vulnerable booths, the standing counsel submits that they have ensured deployment of special police officers, in order to ensure WP(C).12365/09 2 that a free and fair atmosphere is arranged for voting. It is also submitted that in Thalassery and Koothuparamba constituencies, which are located in Kannur District, they have deployed additional forces under a Superintendent of Police, in order to take care of any untoward incidents disturbing the peaceful election. It is also submitted that an Additional Director General of Police will be camping at Kannur and will be overseeing the arrangements. 4. The Additional Director General of Prosecution also generally endorses the submission made on behalf of respondents 1 to 3. From the submission thus made by the standing counsel appearing for respondents 1 to 3, it can be seen that they have, on their own, made arrangements for ensuring that the election from the Vadakara Parliamentary Constituency is free and fair. We therefore, record the aforesaid submissions and close the writ petition on that basis. S. SIRI JAGAN, JUDGE ANTONY DOMINIC, JUDGE okb