Madras High Court
OA/1000/2026 of The Returning Officer Vs Mr. Viswanathan on 25 September 2026
OA No. 1000 of 2026
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED: 25-09-2026
CORAM
THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE P.B. BALAJI
OA No. 1000 of 2026
IN
ELP NO. 6 OF 2026
1. The Returning Officer
10-Kamaraj Nagar Assembly Constituency,
Puducherry.
2. The Chief Electoral Officer
Union Territory of Puducherry
..Applicant(s)
Vs
1. Mr. Viswanathan
S/o.Rajamanickam, No.12, Mariamman Koil St, Sithankudi, Puducherry-605 013
2. Thiru Jose Charles Martin
Member of Legislative Assembly, 10-Kamaraj Nagar Assembly Constituency, Puducherry
..Respondent(s)
PRAYER:This Original Application is filed under Order XIV Rule 8 of the Original Side Rules, and Rule 3 of the Madras High Court, election Petition Rules, 1967 read with Section 151 CPC, to release the M-3 Electronic Voting Machines along with SLU Machines used for the Elections in 10-Kamaraj Nagar Assembly Constituency, held on 23.04.2026 challenged in the main Election Petition No.6 of 2026 and use it for further elections.
For Applicant(s):
Mr. Niranjan Rajagopalan
For Respondent(s):
Mr.K.S.Karthik Raja for R2
Mr.P.R.Thiruneelakandan for R1
( Uploaded on: 29/09/2026 02:12:35 pm )
OA No. 1000 of 2026
Citations and Judicial Treatment
Cited by
0
Decisions in the index citing it
Cites
0
Decisions referred to
In this index
0
Of the decisions it cites
Overruled / Questioned
0
No negative treatment found
Loading the citing and cited decisions…
This judgment in the centre: on the left the decisions it cites, on the right the decisions citing it. Colour is the treatment; choose a decision to open it.
ORDER
This Original Application seeking to release the M-3 Electronic Voting Machines along with SLU Machines used for the Elections in 10-Kamaraj Nagar Assembly Constituency, held on 23.04.2026 challenged in the main Election Petition No.6 of 2026 and use it for further elections.
2. Heard Mr.Niranjan Rajagopalan, learned counsel for the Applicant and Mr.P.R.Thiruneelakandan, learned counsel for R1 and Mr.K.S.Karthik Raja, learned counsel for R2.
3. According to Mr.Niranjan Rajagopalan, learned counsel subject matter does not in any manner pertain to the Electronic Voting Machines that were used in the Election held on 23.04.2026 and therefore, if the machines are released, it can be put to use in other elections.
4. This request is not seriously objected by the learned counsel for the respondents and they fairly concede to the position that the dispute in the Election Petition does not pertain to the EVMs. The learned counsel for the respondents would further state that there is also no request for recounting of M-3 Electronic Voting Machines along with SLU Machines used for the Elections in 10-Kamaraj Nagar Assembly Constituency, held on 23.04.2026.
( Uploaded on: 29/09/2026 02:12:35 pm )
OA No. 1000 of 2026
5. In the light of the above submissions, O.A. No.1000 of 2026 is ordered. 25-09-2026 RKP
( Uploaded on: 29/09/2026 02:12:35 pm )
OA No. 1000 of 2026
P.B.BALAJI, J. RKP OA No. 1000 of 2026 IN ELP NO. 6 OF 2026 (1/2) 25-09-2026
( Uploaded on: 29/09/2026 02:12:35 pm )