Vellore Lok Sabha elections: Poll officials reopen marriage hall for 24 hours

CHENNAI: The Vellore district administration on Saturday reopened a marriage hall in Ambur Bazaar, that was sealed after DMK chief MK Stalin held a meeting with the Muslim community leaders on Thursday. The hall was sealed over alleged violation of model code of conduct which is in place for Lok Sabha polls on August 5.
A team of officials led by assistant returning officer and Ambur Tahsildar R Sujatha had sealed the building.The hall was reopened for 24 hours on Saturday after a request for the same by the marriage hall owners to the district administration.
"Following orders from the district collector, the marriage hall is being unsealed for 24 hours beginning 6pm on Saturday. This comes after a request from the marriage hall owners that a wedding ceremony is scheduled on Sunday,” Sujatha said.
On Friday, the marriage hall administrators told the election officers that the hall was booked only for a discussion on Haj pilgrimage and Eid, while DMK leader and candidate had joined later.
Sujatha said that district collector had already directed the parties to inform the collectorate about any meeting organised in marriage halls or public rallies. However, no such permission was sought and granted for Ambur event.
“We have told the owners to hand over the keys after the scheduled event. Further sealing will take place upon the orders from the collector,” she said.