Kerala HC asks CEO to act on plaints regarding unauthorized entry into poll materials room

Kochi: High court has directed the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Kerala, to decide, within three days, on the representations seeking action against the election officers responsible for opening a materials room adjacent to the strong room at JDT Convention Centre, Vellimadukunnu, Kozhikode, where the EVMs are being kept for counting.Justice K V Jayakumar issued the interim order on a petition filed by K Praveen Kumar, president of the Kozhikode District Congress Committee and a UDF candidate in assembly election from the Koyilandy constituency. Kumar alleged in his petition that on April 20, the returning officer of the Perambra constituency had opened the materials room adjacent to the strong room and entered it with various electronic devices, including laptops, with ulterior motives.Immediately after noticing the alleged incident, the petitioner, along with others, submitted a representation seeking the removal of the returning officer and her assistants from election duties to ensure public confidence in the election process. He also sought the deployment of sufficient, impartial and trustworthy police personnel to guard the strong room in order to prevent any further attempt to tamper with the votes recorded in the electronic voting machines.The next day, the returning officer of the Koyilandy constituency also allegedly attempted to open the materials room. The petitioner then filed another representation before the CEO and district election officer seeking legal action against the returning officers. However, no action was taken, prompting the petitioner to move HC.During the hearing on Tuesday, the petitioner sought a direction for the disposal of the representations submitted to the CEO within a time frame fixed by HC. Accordingly, HC directed the CEO to decide the matter, after hearing the petitioner, within three days.