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Madras High Court rulings on MLA resignations
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2026-09-25 19:12 UTC → 2026-10-13 03:13 UTC ·
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The Madras High Court has addressed legal challenges regarding the resignation of elected Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) following general elections. Initially, the court declined to stay bye-elections in the Madurantakam and Dharapuram constituencies but criticized the practice of resigning representatives. A division bench remarked that such resignations constitute an “insult to voters” and questioned if the Election Commission of India should establish guidelines to prevent the process from becoming a “mockery of democracy.” This legal scrutiny followed the resignation of six AIADMK MLAs who joined the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), with some former MLAs contesting by-elections in the seats they recently vacated. In a recent ruling, the court dismissed ruling dismissing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) that sought (PIL), a division bench comprising Chief Justice Sushrut Arvind Dharmadhikari and Justice G Arul Murugan rejected requests to impose a five-year ban on legislators who voluntarily resign shortly after being elected, as well as a request or to hold such individuals them financially responsible for subsequent bye-election costs. A division bench comprising Chief Justice Sushrut Arvind Dharmadhikari and Justice G Arul Murugan clarified that the The court stated it cannot perform a legislative role by creating new punitive or financial regimes. The bench stated that the requested regimes, noting such measures are matters of legislative policy and lack lacking a basis in the Constitution of India or the Representation of the People Act, 1951. The court further also noted that the Election Commission of India lacks the independent power to add such disqualification conditions and that targeting the six specific MLAs named in the plea would violate Article 14 of the Constitution. Consequently, Further legal proceedings are expected as the upcoming bye-elections court prepares to rule on petitions challenging Assembly Speaker JCD Prabhakar’s decision to accept the resignations. Petitioners, including AIADMK Whip Agri Krishnamurthy, argue the resignations were accepted without proper inquiry while disqualification proceedings were pending due to allegations that the MLAs violated the party whip by supporting the TVK government. The resigned MLAs, including Maragatham Kumaravel and P Sathyabhama, have since won by-elections in the Madurantakam Maduranthakam and Dharapuram Assembly segments will proceed. constituencies under the TVK banner.
Versions
- 2026-10-13 03:13 UTC Madras High Court rulings on MLA resignations
- 2026-09-25 19:12 UTC Madras High Court rulings on MLA resignations
- 2026-09-25 04:22 UTC Madras High Court rulings on MLA resignations
- 2026-09-22 02:50 UTC Madras High Court rulings on MLA resignations
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