2.It is the case of the petitioner that earlier he was elected as a member of Pastorate Committee, Nallur in the years 2003 and 2007, however he failed to succeed in the election for the post of member of Diocesan Council held in the year 2011. After 10 years, pursuant to the notification issued with respect to conduct of election of CSI, Tirunelveli Diocese, he submitted his nomination to the post of member of Pastorate Committee. The election was conducted on 07.02.2021 and the respondents 4 and 5 were appointed as Tellers. The petitioner further stated that there were two groups contested for the posts of member of Diocesan council and Pastorate committee and one group is the petitioner's group and another is under the head of one Jeyaraj. It is alleged by the petitioner that the respondents 4 and 5, who are the supporters of Jeyaraj's group, were appointed by the third respondent without making any consultation with the petitioner's group members. During the course of election and counting, no video coverage was taken. The congregation members viz., (i)J.Stella (ii)A.Maragatham (iii) T.Mekala and (iv)D.Gnana Selvakumari went to cast their votes and requested the chairman of pastorate to cast his vote to their groups, but against their wishes, the fifth respondent himself made their votes as invalid. Similarly, the sixth respondent himself cast all votes in respect of Kuruvankottai Village. Such act of the respondents 5 and 6 is contrary to CSI election rule 7(3), according to the petitioner. It is further alleged by the petitioner that his group was not permitted to be present at the time of counting, whereas the respondents 4 and 5 belonging to opponent group, were present at the counting place. Thus, according to the petitioner, the third respondent was not conducting the election in a fair and transparent manner. Pointing out the same, the petitioner and others filed a Election petition dated 08.02.2021 before the second respondent and requested to conduct fresh election in respect of Nallur Pastorate. However, the second respondent dismissed the said Election petition, by order dated 18.02.2021, which is impugned herein.
