The Madras High Court on Tuesday warned that it may impose costs on Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Joseph Vijay and Sports Minister Aadhav Arjuna for seeking an adjournment to file applications seeking rejection of election petitions challenging their victories in the 2026 Assembly elections.
The Single Bench of Justice V Lakshminarayanan stressed that the Court was not concerned with the political status of the respondents but with ensuring that election petitions are decided within the statutory timeframe of six months.
The Court, however, refrained from imposing costs after counsel appearing for Vijay and Arjuna assured that the applications would be filed within a day. The matter was accordingly adjourned to August 27.
In July, the High Court had admitted election petitions challenging Vijay’s election victories from the Perambur and Tiruchirappalli (East) constituencies in the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. It had also admitted petitions challenging Arjuna’s election from the Villivakkam constituency.
While permitting private notice in the petitions, the Court had emphasised that election matters should be adjudicated expeditiously and within six months.
Vijay and Arjuna subsequently informed the Court that they intended to file applications seeking rejection of the election petitions. At an earlier hearing, the Court had granted them two weeks’ time and directed that the applications be filed within the stipulated period.
When the matters came up on Tuesday, counsel for Vijay and Arjuna submitted that the applications were ready but signatures could not be obtained due to the ongoing Assembly session. Counsel sought additional time and assured the Court that the applications would be filed within two days, requesting that no costs be imposed.
Taking note of the assurance, Justice Lakshminarayanan adjourned the proceedings to August 27 and, for the time being, declined to impose costs.
Four election petitions have been filed against Vijay, three challenging his victory from Perambur and one challenging his victory from Tiruchirappalli (East). Two petitions have been filed challenging Arjuna’s victory from Villivakkam.
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