HC refuses to stop SC, ST schemes during polls

Chennai: Madras high court has dismissed a public interest writ petition seeking a direction to ECI to ensure that public funds under the schemes implemented by Tamil Nadu Adi Dravidar Housing and Development Corporation, are not misused during election period. In his petition, C Selvakumar of Madurai said that if these funds are unduly used to influence voters during elections, it could lead to misuse of public money and govt machinery, disturb the level playing field, and affect free and fair elections. On Friday, counsel for the petitioner K Kannan sought the leave of the court to withdraw the writ petition, with liberty to approach the competent authority seeking redress of the grievances. TNN