The Madras high court on Monday ordered notice to the election commission and state home secretary on a petition seeking a direction to restrain authorities in charge of elections in Tamil Nadu from conducting 'illegal and arbitrary searches' and seizing property from vehicles on important highways.

A division bench,comprising justices Elipe Dharma Rao and M Venugopal passed the order on a petition by Thillai Natarjan, a retired school headmaster of Theni district and posted the matter for admission on Tuesday.

Nataarajan contended that the action of the authorities in searching and seizing cash and valuables from the travelling public in a bid to prevent use of money to bribe voters for the April 13 assembly polls was an unreasonable restriction, putting people to great inconvenience and hardship.

The petitioner contended that the authorities cannot assume power and seize 'properties' of travelling public, including cash under the impression that the cash is meant for election purpose.