ORDER

1. We have heard Shri K.K. Venugopal, learned Senior Counsel for the State of Tamil Nadu in support of IA No. 7 and Shri G. Ramaswamy, learned Senior Counsel for the Election Commission. Learned Solicitor General appeared for the Government of India.

2. On 2-8-1993, the Election Commission of India, under certain extraordinary circumstances, felt compelled in view of the difficulties encountered and experienced by it in the matter of securing appropriate deployment of security and paramilitary forces for the proper and efficient conduct of the elections, to declare that the by elections in the country to the various constituencies shall stand postponed till 18-12-1993. The further consequential orders made by the Election Commission of India pursuant to its general order of 2-8-1993 had the effect of postponing the elections in two constituencies at Tamil Nadu as well.

3. The two constituencies in the State of Tamil Nadu are - the "34 Ranipet Assembly Constituency" and "22 Palani Parliamentary Constituency". The State of Tamil Nadu was aggrieved by this postponement. The orders of the Election Commission were challenged by the State of Tamil Nadu in Writ Petitions Nos. 14690-92