(Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying to issue a writ of mandamus forbearing the respondents from publishing or releasing the Electoral Rolls with the photographs of eligible women voters particularly Muslim Gosha Women voters of all the Constituencies in the State of Tamil Nadu, especially for the ensuring bye-election to Madurai Central Assembly Constitutency.)

The Election Commission of India with a view to improving the fidelity of the electoral rolls and to evolve methods to check impersonation and eradicate bogus voting decided to undertake the project of putting the photographs in the electoral roll itself so as to achieve the purpose of proper identification of the electors at the polling stations. Accordingly, the Commission during the year 2003 undertook pilot projects in two Assembly Constituencies in Kerala and two Assembly Constituencies in Harayana. In view of the encouraging results, the Commission issued a direction vide its communication dated 18.12.2003 to the Chief Electoral Officers of all the States and Union Territories. Pursuant to the directions issued from time to time in this regard the work had begun in various