IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT : THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE THOTTATHIL B.RADHAKRISHNAN TUESDAY, THE 17TH JUNE 2008 / 27TH JYAISHTA 1930 WP(C).No. 18142 of 2008(I) -------------------------- PETITIONER: ------------ MANJOOR SERVICE CO.OP.BANK LTD., K-73, M MANJOOR-PO, KURUPPANTHARA, KOTTAYAM REP. BY THE VICE PRESIDENT P.K.RAGHAVAN BY ADV. SRI.GEORGE POONTHOTTAM RESPONDENTS: ------------- 1. RETURNING OFFICER, MANJOOR SERVICE CO.OP.BANK LTD.NO.K-73, MANJOOR PO., KURUPPANTHARA, KOTTAYAM 2. STATE CO.OP.ELECTION COMMISSION, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, REP. BY THE SECRETARY BY SR.GOVT. PLEADER SMT.ANU SIVARAMAN THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 17/06/2008, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: THOTTATHIL B.RADHAKRISHNAN, J. ------------------------------------------- W.P(C).No.18142 OF 2008 ------------------------------------------- Dated this the 17th day of June, 2008 JUDGMENT Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and learned senior Government Pleader for the respondents. 2. Election to the Board of Directors of the Manjoor Service Co-operative Bank Ltd. is scheduled to be held in terms of Ext.P1 notification. The materials on record, in particular, Ext.P3, shows that even for holding a General Body Meeting on 24.3.2007, the writ petitioner Bank had to move this Court for police protection and in those proceedings, it was recorded that there would be no law and order situation. It is also a matter of record that even in relation to the establishment and running of an individual branch, there was controversy between different political factions as is made to appear going by the pleadings. 3. Without expressing anything on merits regarding the above aspects, it needs to be observed that purity of the electoral WPC.18142/08 Page numbers process has to be ensured by providing a congenial atmosphere for the voters to exercise their right of franchise and to see that election is held smoothly. With this in mind, I am of the view that it is most appropriate that the polling held pursuant to Ext.P1 is videographed under the control of the second respondent. Hence, it is directed that the second respondent shall ensure videographing of the entire polling and counting scheduled as per Ext.P1 and Sri.P.K.Raghavan, Vice President of the Bank who represents it in this writ petition, shall personally pay the expenses for such process. It is further directed that the videograph shall be under the safe custody of the second respondent. The writ petition ordered accordingly. Sd/- THOTTATHIL B.RADHAKRISHNAN, Judge kkb.18/6.