The Madras High Court has dismissed writ petitions that challenged the tender conditions for live webcasting during the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.
The numbers
The Madras High Court dismissed writ petitions challenging tender conditions for live webcasting during the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections 2026. The court’s ruling comes as the Election Commission of India prepares for the elections, with the tender conditions mandating the installation of 1.5 lakh cameras at 75,032 polling stations and 3,744 cameras at counting centres.
Chief Justice Sushrut Arvind Dharmadhikari emphasized that the scope of judicial review in the tender process is extremely limited, stating, “The tender floating authority is the best judge of its requirements and unless arbitrariness or mala fide on the part of the tendering authority is alleged, the court’s interference should be minimal.” The court found no evidence of arbitrariness or mala fide in the tender conditions, which are estimated to have a project value of approximately ₹120 crore.
The successful bidder will be required to deploy one technician at every polling station, totaling 75,032 personnel. The tender also stipulates that bidders must have a minimum annual turnover of ₹100 crore over the last three audited financial years, specifically for the years 2022-23, 2023-34, and 2024-25. Additionally, bidders must have prior experience with at least 1 lakh cameras at polling stations and a minimum of 2,500 cameras at counting centres.
Despite concerns raised by senior counsel Siddharth Mridul and Satish Parasaran regarding the restrictive eligibility criteria, the court maintained that there was no substantial evidence to support claims of bias or tailored conditions favoring specific companies. Mridul noted, “Such restrictive eligibility criteria create a strong apprehension that the tender conditions have been tailored to suit the said two companies alone,” while Parasaran argued that the conditions operate as an artificial barrier that excludes technically competent bidders.
In a related matter, the Division Bench of the Madras High Court granted interim protection to officials involved in contempt proceedings related to the Thiruparankundram Deepam row. This follows an earlier ruling in December 2025, which stated that a stone pillar on Thiruparankundram hillock is a Deepathoon belonging to the Arulmigu Subramania Swamy Temple. The court directed the restoration of the traditional Karthigai Deepam lighting at the site, following contempt proceedings initiated due to the failure to light the lamp during the Karthigai festival.
The matter concerning the Karthigai Deepam lighting is scheduled for further hearing on April 8. Observers are keen to see how the court’s decisions will impact the upcoming elections and the adherence to traditional practices at religious sites.
Details remain unconfirmed regarding the final implications of the court’s decisions on the tender process and the ongoing contempt proceedings. As the elections approach, the focus will remain on the execution of these tender conditions and the court’s oversight in ensuring compliance with its directives.
