M Vijayaraghavan J to take over as Returning Officer for BCTN Elections

In a communication made by the Bar Council of India (BCI) yesterday, it has been revealed that Justice M Vijayaraghavan, former judge of the Madras High Court, will take over as the new Returning Officer (RO) for the Bar Council of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry (BCTN) elections, 2018..This development follows the resignation of ROs Justice GM Akbar Ali and Justice B Mathivanan last week. The BCI’s letter has recorded the official reason for the resignation of the ROS as health problems and illness. .Justice Vijayaraghavan has therefore been appointed to take their place, along with two former District Judges as Assistant ROs. The Assistant ROs appointed are G Ganesan and Emas Siddhrthar. The appointments were made in complaince with the directions of the Election Tribunal to fill up the resultant vacancies without any delay..The letter records the following resolution as having been passed by the BCI:.“The office has placed before us the letters dated 10.4.2018 of Hon’ble Justice/s Mr. G.M. Akbar Ali (Retd.) and Dr. T. Mathivanan (Retd), tendering their resignations from the post of Returning Officer/s for the State of Tamil Nadu & Puducherry due to their health problems and illness. The said letters were placed before the Election Tribunal/Committee No. 1 in its meeting held on 12.4.2018 and the Election Tribunal asked the BCI to fill up the resultant vacancies without any delay..Keeping in view the urgency of the matter, after consideration, the Council appoints Hon’ble Mr. Justice M. Vijayaraghavan, Former Judge, High Court of Madras as new Returning Officer for the State of Tamil Nadu & Puducherry..Further, the Council appoints Mr. G. Ganesan, Retired District Judge and Mr. Emas Siddhrthar, Retired District Judge as Assistant Returning Officers for the election of State Bar Council of Tamil Nadu & Puducherry, 2018.”.In the meanwhile, the date for counting the votes cast for the BCTN elections is yet to be notified. The initial date fixed for the same was April 9..However, communications made on behalf of the BCI on April 6 and 7 directed that the process be stalled, until the Election Tribunal considered the team of officers engaged by the ROs for counting votes. A notification issued by the previous ROs Justices Ali and Mathivanan three days prior to their resignation intimated,.“Therefore, in view of the fact that the Bar Council of India has assured that our representation dated 03.04.2018 shall be placed before the Honourable Election Tribunal No.1 for its decision in the next meeting and in view of the direction received from the Bar Council of India dated 06.04.2018 and 07.04.2018, we are not in a position to commence the counting on 09.04.2018. .The candidates are assured that the ballot boxes are secured safely and the counting date will be intimated immediately after receipt of the communication from the Honourable Election Tribunal No. 1 and the Bar Council of India.”.Read BCI’s Letter date April 15, 2018 below:.Read notification dated April 07, 2018 issued by ROs, Justices GM Akbar Ali and T Mathivanan below: