Madras High Court summons EC official over Jayalalithaa's thumb impression

The Madras HIgh Court ordered Election Commission of India Principal Secretary to depose before it on October 6 in connection with affixing thumb impression on poll documents by  late Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa on Wednesday.

The senior Election Commission official have been asked to submit the documents relating to the permission given for the thumb impression of Jayalalithaa and how it is in the line with the provisions of the Representation of Peoples Act and also the election conduct rules.

In the by-polls in Aravakurichi, Thanjavur and Thiruparankundram assembly constituencies in Tamil Nadu AIADMK candidates had filed their papers on October 28 to the Returning Officers with thumb impression of Jayalalithaa attested by a government doctor.

Also read: What exactly happened to Jayalalithaa at Apollo Hospital? Judicial probe to find out

The court was approached by DMK candidate P Saravana to cancel the election of AIADMK’s AK bose from the Thirupparankundram Assembly constituency in the byelection held last year raising doubts on affixing of the thumb impression by Jayalalithaa in his poll documents.

Jayalalithaa was admitted to the hospital with fever and dehydration on September 22 and died after over 70 days in December.

Also read: Retired Madras High Court judge, Justice Arumughasamy to head commission of inquiry probing J Jayalalitha's death

The late AIADMK chief who was in Apollo Hospital during October 2016 had inflamed her right hand as she had undergone tracheostomy. She had to affix her left thumb impression in the poll documents submitted by as AIADMK candidate.

According to a election commission official, a candidate contesting on behalf of a political party has to submit Form B, where their party’s leader has to authorise the candidate to contest under a party symbol.