The State Election Commission has cancelled by-elections in two wards in Chengalpattu municipality, scheduled for Thursday.
The election body produced a gazette notification before the Madras High Court, cancelling the by-polls, where two candidates had filed petitions.
G.S. Faziullah and K. Thanigaivelu, independent candidates in wards 1 and 6, had submitted that their nominations were rejected by the Returning Officer (RO) without valid reasons.
The notification said the commission had called for a report from the election observer (EO).
In the report, the EO said the returning officer had rejected the nominations stating that the candidates had not filled up the particulars regarding income tax and left blank the requisite columns in their affidavits.
Under the Tamil Nadu Town Panchayats, Third Grade Municipalities, Municipalities and Corporations (Elections) Rules, the returning officer should not reject any nomination paper on grounds of any defect which was not of a substantial character.
If an objection was raised by the returning officer or by any other person, the candidate concerned may be allowed time to rebut it not later than 11 a.m. the next day but one following the date fixed for scrutiny.
The RO should record his decision on the nomination on the adjourned date.
Recording this, Justice V. Ramasubramanian treated the petitions as closed.
