UDF to move high court over opening of materials room near the EVM strong room

Kozhikode: The UDF Kozhikode district committee has decided to approach the Kerala high court seeking action against officials involved in the opening of a materials room at JDT convention centre at Vellimadukunnu where the EVM strongroom is also located.District Congress Committee president K Praveen Kumar said the decision to pursue legal action follows the failure of the district collector — who is also the district election officer — in acting against the Perambra returning officer.He said the petition would seek prosecution of officials responsible for the lapse and demand that the returning officer be relieved of all election-related duties, including ballot counting.Kumar added that a complaint had already been emailed to the state chief electoral officer and that KPCC general secretary P M Niyas would meet the CEO in person to press the demand. The petition is expected to be filed in the high court on Friday.Alleging serious lapses, Kumar questioned the decision to set up a materials room within the inner perimeter of the strong room, which, as per election guidelines, should be under the control of central forces. He also pointed out that although the district collector submitted a report against the Perambra returning officer, no action had been taken.Meanwhile, the district collector maintained that only the unsealed material room of the Perambra constituency was accessed, in the presence of candidates' agents, to update data in the ENCORE software.