IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 01.08.2022 CORAM:

THE HONOURABLE MS.JUSTICE R.N.MANJULA C.R.P. (PD) No.2397 of 2022 C.Amitha ... Petitioner versus

1.S.Kavitha

2.S.Meenakshi

3.D.Vasantha

4.Assistant Returning Officer, Block Development Office, Vellore Panchayat Union, Vellore.

5.The District Collector / Returning Officer, Collectorate, Sathuvachari, Vellore - 632 009.

6.Election Commissioner, O/o.Tamil Nadu Election Commission, Vadapalani, Chennai - 600 026.

7.Home Secretary, Government of Tamil Nadu, Fort St.George, Chennai - 632 009. ... Respondents PRAYER: Civil Revision Petition has been filed under Article 227 of the Constitution of India, to direct the learned Principal District Judge, Vellore, in proceedings bearing Election O.P.No.182 of 2021 pending on its file, within a time frame that may be fixed by this Court. For Petitioner : Mr.P.Sankaranarayanan

O R D E R

This Civil Revision Petition has been filed seeking for a direction to the learned Principal District Judge, Vellore, for speedy disposal of the proceedings pending in Election O.P.No.182 of 2021.

2. The revision petitioner is the petitioner in Election O.P.No.182 of 2021 which was filed against the respondents for the relief of declaration of election of the first respondent dated 09.10.2021 as null and void.

3. The learned counsel for the revision petitioner submitted that as per Section 258(6) of the Tamil Nadu Panchayats Act, 1994 the dispute challenging the election proceedings should be disposed within six months; but the original petition is pending for eight months without any progress and hence, a direction should be given for speedy disposal.

4. On perusal of the adjudication details furnished by the learned counsel for the petitioner, it is seen that the matter was posted for filing counter by the respondents 1, 4 to 7. It is seen that the service of notice itself could be completed only on 21.04.2022 and thereafter, time was given for filing counter by the respondents. It is understandable that due to Covid- 19 pandemic, the cases cannot be progressed in a timely manner. However it is appropriate if the learned trial Judge bestows his best attention to dispose the petition at the earliest.

5. Accordingly, this Civil Revision Petition is disposed of and the learned Principal District Judge, Vellore, is directed to dispose of the Election O.P.No.182 of 2021 as expeditiously as possible. No costs.

01.08.2022 Speaking order / Non-speaking order Index : Yes / No Internet : Yes sri R .N.MANJULA , J.

sri To The Principal District Judge, Vellore.

C.R.P. (PD) No.2397 of 2022

01.08.2022