EC to contest court order on jailbirds

The Election Commission on Tuesday decided to challenge in the Supreme Court a Patna high court order directing it to consider countermanding elections in constituencies contested by jailed candidates whose right to vote had been suspended.

The commission's decision to approach the SC with a Special Leave Petition was taken after one-and-half hour long meeting.

EC counsel S Muralidhar said, "The main objection to the April 30 high court order is taken under Article 329 of the Constitution, which bars any court from interfering with the elections once the process is underway."

He said the commission felt that if the courts start interfering in the election process, it would disrupt the preparations.