Civic chiefs election upheld

CHENNAI: The election of R Jayarani as chairperson of West Arani Panchayat Union in Tiruvannamalai district was upheld by the Madras High Court on Wednesday. The declaration of the result could not be interfered with and set aside on a writ petition, a division bench comprising Justices C Nagappan and KK Sasidharan said, dismissing a writ petition from B Thirumal of Kolathur, the unsuccessful candidate, to set aside the announcement of the returning officer declaring Jayarani as elected on October 29 last. Accepting the argumetns of Jayarani’s senior counsel P Wilson, the bench said that in the event the declaration of the RO was disputed, it was open to  petitioner Thirumal to work out his remedy by way of filing an appropriate petition. In response to a writ petition filed by Jayarani and the contentions of Wilson, the Additional Govt Pleader submitted that election to the vice-president post would be held on November 30. The bench then directed that police protection be provided for the election.