The court cannot interfere with the electoral roll process at a late stage before the elections.

JUDGMENT

This writ petition is filed seeking the following reliefs:

“i). Issue a writ of certiorari or any other appropriate writ, order or direction calling for the records leading to Exhibit P10 issued by the 3rd Respondent and Exhibit P12 issued by the 5th Respondent and quash the same;

ii). Declare that the Petitioners are “ordinarily resident” of Ward No. 32 of Cherpulassery Municipality within the meaning of Section 77 (2) of the Kerala Municipality Act , iii).Direct the respondents to forthwith include the names of the petitioners in the Final Voters List of Ward No. 32 of Cherpulassery Municipality;

iv).Dispense with the filing of the English translation of vernacular documents produced along with this writ petition.

v). Grant such other writ, order or direction as this Hon’ble Court may deem fit and proper in the circumstances of the case.”

[SIC]

2. The short point raised by the petitioners is that, their names were excluded from the final voters list. Even though an appeal is filed, the same was also rejected. Hence, this writ petition.

3. The learned counsel for the petitioners submitted that the 1^st petitioner is 81 years old, and all the petitioners possess voting rights, and they cast their votes in the earlier elections. It is also submitted that they are not contesting this election and they only want the right to vote.

4. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioners, the learned Standing Counsel for the respondents and also the learned Special Government Pleader.

5. It is an admitted fact that the election 2025 to the local bodies is already notified. Today is the last date for submitting nomination and it will end at 3pm today and now it is 2:40pm. From

3pm onwards the electoral roll will be freezed.

6. In such circumstances, I am not in a position to interfere with the electoral roll at this belated stage. But the contention raised by the petitioners are left open.

With the above observations, this writ petition is dismissed.