Madras High Court bars ECI from notifying byelections in five Tamil Nadu Assembly constituencies till July 31, 2026

Direct fact

On July 10, 2026, the Madras High Court restrained the Election Commission of India from notifying byelections to Tiruchi East, Perundurai, Ambasamudram, Viralimalai and Karur Assembly constituencies until July 31, 2026.

Key specifics

• The interim order was passed by Chief Justice Sushrut Arvind Dharmadhikari and Justice G. Arul Murugan.
• The five constituencies named were Tiruchi East, Perundurai, Ambasamudram, Viralimalai and Karur.
• The petitioner cited Section 151A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951.
• The court referred to Supreme Court decisions in 1967, 2011 and 2018 on byelections during pending election petitions.
• The respondents were given time till July 31, 2026 to file counter affidavits.

Exam lens

Question type: polity and election-law case law, Section 151A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, five constituencies, interim order dated July 10, 2026 — a TNPSC one-liner on byelections and pending election petitions.