Representation of the People Act, 1951 · Chapter III: Trial of Election Petitions
Section 87: Procedure before the High Court
(1) Subject to the provisions of this Act and of any rules made thereunder, every election petition shall be tried by the High Court, as nearly as may be, in accordance with the procedure applicable under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908) to the trial of suits:
Provided that the High Court shall have the discretion to refuse, for reasons to be recorded in writing, to examine any witness or witnesses if it is of the opinion that the evidence of such witness or witnesses is not material for the decision of the petition or that the party tendering such witness or witnesses is doing so on frivolous grounds or with a view to delay the proceedings.
(2) The provisions of the Indian Evidence Act, 1872 (1 of 1872), shall, subject to the provisions of this Act, be deemed to apply in all respects to the trial of an election petition.]
Source: India Code (indiacode.gov.in), the consolidated text published by the Legislative Department, Government of India. Text as updated on India Code on 16 October 2026. Words in square brackets [ ] were inserted or substituted by later amending Acts, and *** marks words omitted by an amendment. The amendment footnotes are not reproduced here. Official text on India Code.
Supreme Court judgments citing the section 87
- Munikrishna @ Krishna Etc. v. State by Ulsoor Ps
- Arikala Narasa Reddy v. Venkata Ram Reddy Reddygari & Anr.
- Kodikunnil Suresh @ J. Monian v. N.S. Saji Kumar, Etc. Etc.
- Md. Alauddin Khan v. Karam Thamarjit Singh
- Sethi Roop Lal v. Mrs. Malti Thapar and Ors.
- Mange Ram v. Brij Mohan and Others
- Sultan Ahmd. Owasi v. Mohd. Osman Shaheed and Ors.
- Rajendra Kumar Bajpai v. Ram Adhar Yadav & Others