Tribune News Service
New Delhi, April 4
The Supreme Court on Thursday refused to grant urgent hearing to a petition filed by a Christian body for rescheduling the April 18 Lok Sabha poll in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry on the ground that it would cause “inconvenience” to Christians.
Filed by managing trustee of ‘Christuva Nallenna Iyakkam’, the petition contended that the scheduled date of polling for the Lok Sabha election in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry fell within the holy period that begins with ‘Maundy Thursday’ and is followed by Good Friday and Holy Easter.
The petitioner’s counsel demanded urgent hearing of the petition challenging the March 22 Madras High Court order dismissing the demand. “How long does it take to vote and can’t people cast their vote on a holy day?” asked a Bench headed by Justice SA Bobde while refusing to grant urgent hearing. “We don’t want to advise you on how to pray and how to cast your vote,” it said.
Rescheduling the date of elections from April 18 in Tamil Nadu to any other subsequent date would enable the citizens at large to participate in the electoral process, the petitioner said, adding it should not be construed as a challenge to electoral process.
“The General Election to Lok Sabha 2019 has been notified on March 19 by the Election Commission of India and the date of poll for Tamil Nadu and Puducherry was scheduled on April 18. It falls on Maundy Thursday, within the ‘Holy Triduum’ which means the three days that begin with the liturgy on Maundy Thursday, followed by Good Friday and ends with prayer on Holy Easter Sunday,” the petition stated.
Voting on holy day
The date of poll in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry is scheduled for April 18. It falls on Maundy Thursday, within the ‘Holy Triduum’ which means the three days that begin with the liturgy on Maundy Thursday, followed by Good Friday and ends with prayer on Holy Easter Sunday. Having polling on April 18 would cause inconvenience to the entire Christian community...
— The petition
from The Tribune http://bit.ly/2G0wUge
via Today’s News Headlines
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