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Madras High Court restrains TVK MLA from voting in trust vote
The Madras High Court, in an interim order on May 12, 2026, restrained TVK MLA R. Seenivasa Sethupathy from participating in the floor test. The order followed a writ petition by former DMK minister K. R. Periakaruppan alleging a misdirected postal vote due to two similarly named Tirupattur constituencies, and it directs the ECI to preserve voting records and related footage. The main writ petition is listed for June 26, 2026.
Why It Matters
The ruling temporarily blocks the TVK MLA from the trust vote and underscores judicial scrutiny over electoral processes and potential postal-vote errors, which could affect the Tirupattur election outcome and subsequent floor tests.
Timeline
4 Events
Main writ petition listed for further hearing
June 26, 2026
The judges directed the High Court Registry to list the main writ petition for further hearing on June 26, 2026.
Interim order restraining TVK MLA from voting
May 12, 2026
A summer vacation Bench granted an interim injunction restraining TVK MLA R. Seenivasa Sethupathy from voting or taking part in any floor test, including confidence/no-confidence votes, in the Legislative Assembly. The court directed the Election Commission of India to secure and preserve all records relating to the counting in Tirupattur (Sivaganga district) and to preserve video footage of the counting and re-verification of postal ballots. The order also stated it does not set aside the election or confer any right to be declared elected.
Continuation of hearing on writ petition
May 11, 2026
The hearing continued before the same bench, with arguments focusing on the potential impact of misdirected postal votes on the Tirupattur election result.
Hearing on urgent writ petition by Periakaruppan
May 10, 2026
A hearing was held by a summer vacation Bench of the Madras High Court on the urgent writ petition filed by former DMK minister K. R. Periakaruppan, who alleged that the Tirupattur election was affected by a misdirected postal vote due to two similarly named constituencies.