Chennai, March 21:  The Election Commission in the Madras High Court on Thursday said that it is only the Election Commission's authority to decide the dates of general elections and that the courts do not have the right to interfere in it. A petition was filed before the bench of Justice Manikumar and Nyamyumurthy Subramanyam Prasad, in the view of the religious festival and program in Tamilnadu to change the date of April 18 elections. State Chief Electoral Officer Satyabrata Sahu filed a counter affidavit and said this above.

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In the Madras High Court on March 21, the Election Commission said on Thursday that only the Election Commission has the right to decide the dates of elections and the courts do not have the right to interfere in it. The occurrence of a religious festival or season is a routine and common one in the country and the election cannot be deferred solely on this ground. 

He said that the Supreme Court has said in its various orders that it is the jurisdiction of the Election Commission to decide the date of the election. The affidavit states that it is normal for religious festivals or weather in the country and elections cannot be avoided on this basis only. The affidavit has been requested to dismiss the petition. After listening to the arguments of the Election Commission and the petitioner's lawyer, the bench.

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