Madras HC summons Chief Election Commissioner

CHENNAI: The Madras High Court has summoned the Chief Election Commissioner of India, to be present in the court next month for a case hearing. Justice MV Muralidharan directed the CEC to remain personally present in the court on January 9, along with the returning officer of Oddanchathiram assembly constituency in Tamil Nadu. The court was miffed at the fact that the poll panel had not been responding to court notices and for the last three hearings the commission was not represented by anyone in the court. The issue relates to an election petition filed by a voter, challenging the election of DMK candidate R Sakkarapani from Oddanchatram in May last year.