Judgment

VENKATARAMIAH, J. :- The question for consideration in this case is whether it is appropriate for the High Court to interfere with an election process at an intermediate stage after the commencement of the election process and before the declaration of the result of the election held for the purpose of filling a vacancy in the office of the Chairman of a Panchayat Union under the provisions of the Tamil Nadu Panchayats Act, 1958 (Act XXXV of 1958) (hereinafter referred to as the Act) on the ground that there was an error in the matter of allotment of symbols to the candidates contesting at such election.

2. The appellant S.T. Muthusami, respondent No. 1 K. Natarajan, respondent No. 6 - M. Thangavelu and two others were nominated as candidates at the election held to the office of the Chairman, Panchayat Union, Madathukkulam, Udamalpet Taluk, Coimbatore District in the State of Tamil Nadu. The date of scrutiny of the nomination papers was 31st January, 1986 and the last date for withdrawal of nominations was 3rd February, 1986. The election was to take place on the 23rd February, 1986. On the date of the scrutiny of the nomination papers, the nomination papers of the appellan