Cannot order fresh election to medical council, says court

02.03.2018

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai: The Madras high court has refused to entertain a writ petition seeking fresh elections to Tamil Nadu Medical Council (TNMC), but asked the authorities concerned to retain election records and ballot papers in safe custody till the health secretary takes a decision on the matter.

Justice K Ravichandrabaabu issued the direction on a writ petition filed by Dr P Balakrishnan, who said he would approach the health secretary under the Tamil Nadu Medical Council Act, questioning the validity of the election.

Alleging corrupt poll practices, he claimed that though a total of 83,253 voters were eligible to cast votes, only 25,253 votes were polled. Claiming that more than 58,000 doctors did not participated in the elections, the petitioner said there was no minimum quorum required as per the Act.

However, refusing to concur with the contentions of the petitioner, the judge said, “The present petition with the relief for fresh elections cannot be entertained. Since the petitioner stated that an application under the TN medical council Act would be filed before the health secretary within a period of one week, it is for him to do so.”