The Madras High Court refused to stay the October 6 bye-elections in Madurantakam and Dharapuram, leaving the poll calendar intact while adjourning a public interest petition to Friday.
During the hearing, a bench sharply questioned legislators resigning only to recontest the vacancies they created, stating that such contests can insult voters and mock democracy. The court asked why the Election Commission should not use its constitutional powers to study the problem and frame guidelines against the practice.
Petitioners warned that unchecked resignations for partisan re-entry could multiply costly bypolls and invite horse-trading, while the Advocate General replied that existing law does not bar resigned MLAs from recontesting.