KOCHI: High court has finally settled the plea of Ramesh Chennithala filed against the poll panel on the issue of the double vote. The issues concerned with those who have double votes, absent in the area and the dead will be decided by BLOs(Booth Level officers) concerned in the area and it will be clearly recorded in the voters list given to presiding officers. If such voters reach the polling booths, an affidavit will be sought from them. Their photos will also be taken. Ink will be paster in their fingers and before leaving the booths, it will be ensured whether it has dried up. The high court has fully accepted this blueprint of the poll panel. The high court has also said that if needed, central forces will be mobilised for the smooth running of the poll process.

The high court has also intervened over ensuring the safety of postal votes. The high court has asked to keep the postal votes along with the VVPAT machines in strong rooms. The postal ballot boxes should be sealed in the presence of candidates or party agents. These proceedings must be video recorded. The high court’s intervention on the issue has come on the plea submitted by Congress candidates.

Earlier, Opposition Leader Ramesh Chennithala has filed a plea before the high court alleging that there are 4.30 lakh double votes in the state and the court must direct to take prosecution proceedings against the officials who facilitated bogus voting. The poll panel has informed the court while hearing the petition that there are only 38,586 double voters in the state. It has also told the court that as the poll notification is out, it is impossible to change the voter’s list all over again. Last day the high court has also said that prima facie lapses have happened in the voters’ list.