Joseph Alex vs Returning Officer, Vennala Service Co-Operative Bank Elections

T.R. Ravi, J

Admit. Standing counsel takes notice for the 2nd respondent. Government Pleader takes notice for the 3rd respondent. Adv..Sri.C.M.Nazar, Standing Counsel takes notice for respondents 1, 4 and 5.

The writ petition has been filed praying for a declaration that the decision of respondents to conduct elections to the Governing Committee of 2nd respondent bank is unjust and unfair; for a direction to the respondents not to conduct election on the day of Eid-ul-Adha; for a direction to take steps to conduct election on a day other than Eid day and to inform the voters through appropriate means in advance. The election is scheduled to be held on 10.07.2022.

According to the counsel for petitioner as per the Lunar Calendar, 10th is the day in which Eid-ul-Adha is celebrated. However, it is to be noted that the Government calendar shows that Bakrid will be celebrated on 9/7/2022. There is no further notification to the effect that Bakrid will be on a day other than 09.07.2022. In the above circumstances, there is no reason to assume that 10th is the Eid-ul-Adha day.

Apart from that, no legal bar is pointed out to conduct the election on a public holiday. It is for the concerned authority to decide whether the election to be conducted on a public holiday or not. In such circumstances, I do not find any ground to interfere with the election scheduled to be held on 10.07.2022, at this stage, particularly when arrangements for the election are stated to have been completed. The writ petition stands dismissed.