Surender Kumar v. State Election Commission and Others

CWPoNos.o26255,o27525oando27530oofo2022o(O&M)1o2023:PHHC:053349-DBo INoTHEoHIGHoCOURToOFoPUNJABoANDoHARYANAoATo CHANDIGARHo o o o o o o o CWPoNo.o26255oofo2022(O&M)o

1.o o o o o o DateoofoDecision:oApril,o11,2023.o o o o SurenderoKumaroo o o o o o o o o o o .......Petitionero o o o o Versuso o TheoStateoElectionoCommission,oHaryanaoandoothersoo o o o o o o o o o o o ......oRespondentso o o o o ANDo o o

2.o o o o o o CWPoNo.o27525oofo2022(O&M)o o Afsanao o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o .......Petitionero o o o o Versuso o StateoofoHaryanaoandootherso o o o o o o o o o o o o o ......oRespondentso o o o ANDo o

3.oo o o o o o CWPoNo.o27530oofo2022(O&M)o o AzadoKhanoo o o o o o o o o o o o o o o .......Petitionero o o o o Versuso o StateoofoHaryanaoandootherso o o o o o o o o o o o o o ......oRespondentso o o CWPoNos.o26255,o27525oando27530oofo2022o(O&M)2o2023:PHHC:053349-DBo o CORAM:-oo HON'BLEoMRS.JUSTICEoLISAoGILLo o o HON'BLEoMRS.oJUSTICEoRITUoTAGOREo o Present:o Mr.oLekhoRajoSharma,oAdvocateo o o forotheopetitionero(inoCWPoNo.o26255oofo2022).o o o o Mr.RandhiroSinghoHooda,oAdvocateo o o forotheopetitionero(inoCWPoNo.o27525oofo2022).o o o o Mr.oRandhiroSingh,oAdvocateo o o forotheopetitionero(inoCWPoNo.o27530oofo2022).o o o o Ms.oShrutioJain,oDAG.,oHaryana.o o o o Mr.oMohd.oArshad,oAdvocateo o o fororespondentono.5o(inoCWPoNo.o27525oofo2022)o o o o Mr.oTalimoHussain,oAdvocateo o o fororespondentono.5o(inoCWPoNo.o27530oofo2022).o o o o o o *****o LISAoGILL,oJ.o o o Theo abovesaido writo petitionso areo beingo takeno upo togethero foro hearingoatorequestoandowithoconsentoofolearnedocounseloforotheopartiesoasotheo questiono involvedo ino allo theseo writo petitions,o iso theo sameo i.e.,o "whethero interferenceounderoArticleo226oofotheoConstitutionoofoIndiaoforosettingoasideo electiono too theo posto ofo Sarpancho (conductedo ino termso ofo theo Haryanao PanchayatioRajoAct,o1994oandoHaryanaoPanchayatioRajoElectionoRules,o1994)o onotheogroundoofoallegedofakeovotes,oisocalledofor?".o o o Briefo factso ino eacho ofo theo writo petitionso aso necessaryo foro adjudication,oareoasounder:-o CWPoNo.o26255oofo2022.o o o Thiso writo petitiono haso beeno filedo byo theo petitioner,o whoo contestedoforotheopostoofoSarpanchoofovillageoKarsindhu,oTehsiloSaffidon,o DistrictoJind,oandolostotheosameotoorespondentono.8.o o o Itoisostatedothatoelectionoscheduleoforovariousopostsoincludingotheo CWPoNos.o26255,o27525oando27530oofo2022o(O&M)3o2023:PHHC:053349-DBo posto ofo Sarpancho waso notifiedo ono 07.10.2022,o Annexureo P-1.o Posto ofo SarpanchoofoVillageoKarsindhu,owasodeclaredoreservedoforoScheduledoCasteo Candidates.o Scheduleo aso notifiedo ono 07.10.2022,o Annexureo P-1,o iso reproducedoasounder:-o o o o Sr.oNo.oo Programmeo Dateo

1.o Dateoonowhichonoticeoshallo 08.10.2022o(Saturday)o beopublishedobyotheoDeputyo Commissioner-cum-Districto Electiono Officerso (Panchayats)oinoFormo2ooro3o aso theo caseo mayo be,o foro invitingo nominationso undero ruleo 24o ofo theo Haryanao Panchayatio Rajo Electiono Rules,o1994.o

2.o DatesoonowhichoNominationo 14.10.2022o (Friday)o too paperso shallo beo presentedo 19.10.2022o underoRuleo24o(2)o(i)o (Wednesday)o (excepto

16.10.2022(o Sunday))o (10.00oAMotoo3.00oPM)o

3.o Dateso ono whicho theolisto ofo 14.10.2022o (Friday)o too Nominationo paperso 19.10.2022o receivedo shallo beo pastedo (Wednesday)o underoruleo24o(2)o(i)o

4.o Dateo byo whicho 14.10.2022o (Friday)o too Affidavit/declarationo shallo 19.10.2022o beo furnishedo byo theo (Wednesday)o candidatesoinoFormo4-A,otoo theo concernedo Returningo Officer.o(ruleo27)o

5.o Dateo ono whicho theo 20.10.2022o (Thursday)o nominationopapersoshallobeo 10.00oAMoonwardsoo scrutinizedo undero ruleo 24o

(2)(ii)o

6.o Lastodateoforowithdrawaloofo 21.10.2022o (Friday)o candidatureobyoaocandidateo (uptoo3.00oPM)o underoruleo24o(2)o(iv)o

7.o Dateo ono whicho symbolso 21.10.2022o (Friday)o shallo beo allottedo too theo (aftero3.00oPM)o contestingocandidateso

8.o Dateo ono whicho listo ofo theo 21.10.2022o(Friday)oo contestingo candidateso shallo beopastedounderoruleo24o(2)o

(v)o

9.o Datesoonowhichotheopoll,oifo Memberso ofo Zilao any,o shallo beo heldo undero Parishadso ando ruleo24o(2)o(vi)o PanchayatoSamitiso CWPoNos.o26255,o27525oando27530oofo2022o(O&M)4o2023:PHHC:053349-DBo o

30.10.2022o(Sunday)o o Sarpancheso ando Pancheso ofo Gramo Panchayatso

02.11.2022oWednesday)o

10.o TimingoofotheoPollo Betweeno 7.00o AMo too

6.00oPMo

11.o Re-Poll,oifoanyorequiredo o o Foro Zilao Parishadso ando 02.11.2022o(withoGramo PanchayatsoSamitiso Panchayats)o o Foro allo Gramo 04.11.2022o Panchayats(Pancheso ando Sarpanches)o

12.o Countingoofovoteso Foro Zilao Parishadso ando Panchayato Samitiso ato theo palceo specifiedo byo theo concernedo Deputyo Commissioner-cum-DistrictoElectionoOfficero

(P)o ono theo dateo whicho willo beo notifiedo byo theo Stateo Electiono Commission,o Haryana,o witho theo electiono scheduleo ofo remainingo Districtso ando foro Sarpancheso ando Pancheso ono pollingo booths,o immediatelyo afterocompletionoofopollo onoallotheopollingoboothso ofo eacho Gramo Panchayato

13.o Declarationooforesulto Immediatelyo aftero theo completionoofocountingo o o o Petitionero submittedo hiso nominationo paperso foro theo posto ofo Sarpancho withino theo stipulatedo timeo ando ito iso statedo thato hiso nominationo papersowereoscrutinizedoono20.10.2022owithonoodefectobeingofoundotherein.o Heo waso declaredo theo contestingo candidateo ono 21.10.2022o alongo witho respondentsono.o7otoo13.oPollingowasostatedotoobeoheldoono02.11.2022owitho thereobeingoeightowardsoinotheiroentireovillageoKarsindhu.oTotalovotesoareo statedotoobeo1064,ohoweveroonlyooneopollingoboothono.o58owasoinoplace.oItoiso CWPoNos.o26255,o27525oando27530oofo2022o(O&M)5o2023:PHHC:053349-DBo submittedothatoduringotheocourseoofovoting,opetitioners'oagentoidentifiedotwoo orothreeofakeovotersoandoreportedotheosameotootheoReturningoOfficer,owhooalsoo calledoconcernedoSuboDivisionaloMagistrateoatotheospotoandooneosuchofakeo voterowasohandedooverotootheopolice.oItoisosubmittedothatopetitionerorequestedo thatoelectionoresultobeonotodeclaredoandosoughtore-pollingoalongowitholegalo actionotoobeotakenoagainstotheofakeovoters.oItoisostatedothatofakeovoterowhoowaso apprehendedoisoaonearorelativeoofotheoex-Sarpanch-respondentono.14,owhoo wieldsoconsiderableoinfluenceoovero policeo officials.o Respondentono.o 14oiso statedotoobeofacingomanyocriminalocasesoofoembezzlementoandoheowantedotheo petitionerotoobeodefeatedoandopersonoofohisochoiceotoobeodeclaredoelectedoino orderotoosaveohisoskinofromoinquiriesoandogovernmentorecoveries.oItoisofurthero statedothatoresultoatovillageoKarsindhuowasonotodeclared.oBallotoboxesowereo takeno too Saffidon,ohowever,o petitionero allegedlyo cameo tooknowo ato aolatero stageo thato theo concernedo Deputyo Superintendento ofo Police,o facilitatedo theo releaseoofotheofakeovoter/sofromopoliceocustodyoandonoocaseowasoregisteredoino thisoregard.oItoisostatedothatopetitionerowasodeclaredodefeatedobyooneovoteoono

02.11.2022oinotheoabsenceoofoapplicantowithoutoholdingoanyoenquiryoinotheo complaint/oallegationsoleveledobyotheopetitioneroregardingofakeovoters.oCopyo ofotheodeclaredoresult,oitoisoallegedowasonotosuppliedotootheopetitioner.o o o Aggrievedotherefrom,o presento writopetitionohasobeeno filedo foro settingoasideoofotheoelection,owherebyorespondentono.8ohasobeenodeclaredotoo beotheoelectedoSarpanchoofovillageoKarsindhu,oTehsiloSaffidon,oDistrictoJind.o o o Learnedocounseloforotheopetitionerowhenofacedowithotheoquestiono ofomaintainabilityoofothisowritopetitionovehementlyoarguedothatocastingoofofakeo votes,o firsto ando foremosto doeso noto fallo undero theo descriptiono ofo corrupto practiceoasodefinedounderoSectiono176(5)oofotheoHaryanaoPanchayatioRajoAct,o 1994o(foroshorto'theo1994oAct')oandofurthermoreoitoisotheoboundenodutyoofotheo CWPoNos.o26255,o27525oando27530oofo2022o(O&M)6o2023:PHHC:053349-DBo officialso concernedo too ensureo conducto ofo freeo ando fairo elections.o Ito iso submittedothatonecessaryoactionoshouldohaveobeenotakenoimmediatelyobyotheo officeroconcerned.oLearnedocounselohasoreferredotooRuleo22oofotheoHaryanao PanchayatioRajoElectionoRuleso1994o(foroshorto'theo1994oRules')otoosubmito thatoitoisotheogeneralodutyoofotheoPresidingoOfficeroatoaopollingostationotoo maintainoorderoandoensureoholdingoofoaofairopoll.oItoisosubmittedothatoinothiso situation,opetitioneroshouldonotobeocompelledotootakeorecourseotootheoremedyo ofofilingoanoelectionopetition.oo o o Learnedo counselo foro theo petitionero strenuouslyo urgedo thato presentoisoaocaseowhereorespondentono.8ohasobeenodeclaredotoobeotheowinningo candidateoonlyowithoaomarginoofooneovoteoandotheofakeovoteroinothisocaseowaso apprehendedoatotheospotoandohandedooverotootheoauthorities,obutofororeasonso bestoknownotootheoconcernedoofficers,oheowasoallowedotoogooscot-freeowithouto anyoactionobeingotaken.oItoisoassertedothatovideoowasoalsoopreparedoonotheo spot,obutononeoofotheseofactsowereotakenoinoconsiderationobyotheoauthorities,o whooin-factoshouldohaveoimmediatelyodeclaredoaore-poll.oItowasoarguedothato onceoobjectionowasoraisedoregardingotheofakeovote,opetitioneroshouldonotobeo madeotooundergoorigoursoofoanoelectionopetitionomerelyodueotooinactionoofotheo authorities.oItowasothusocontendedothatothoughoremedyoofofilingoanoelectiono petitionochallengingoelectionooforespondentono.8otootheopostoofoSarpanch,oiso availableotootheopetitionerounderoSectiono176oofotheo1994oAct,osameoisonotoano efficaciousoremedyoinotheogivenocircumstances.oTherefore,otheopresentowrito petition,oitoisoprayedoshouldobeoentertainedoandoallowed.o CWPoNo.o27525oofo2022.o o o Petitionero ino thiso caseo contestedo theo electiono foro theo posto ofo SarpanchoofovillageoNeemka,oTehsil,oPunhana,oDistrict,oMewato(Nuh),obuto wasounsuccessfulohavingolostotheosameotoorespondentono.5.o CWPoNos.o26255,o27525oando27530oofo2022o(O&M)7o2023:PHHC:053349-DBo o o oPrayero ino thiso writo petitiono iso foro directingo theo concernedo respondentsotoocancelobogusovote/sowhichowereopolledoandoforosettingoasideo theoelectionotootheopostoofoSarpanchoofovillageoNeemka,oTehsil,oPunhana,o DistrictoMewato(Nuh)oheldoono02.11.2022.oItowasofurtheroprayedothatostricto actionoshouldobeotakenoagainstotheoofficials,owhoowereopartyotootheoillegalo facilitationoofopollingoofofakeoandobogusovotes.oo o o Itowasosubmittedothatoasoperorecordomoreothano100ovotesoofodeado personsowereoallowedotoobeocastoatovariousobooths,owithovotesoofopeopleowhoo wereonotoevenolivingoinotheovillageobeingocast.oMoreover,onumberoofopersons,o itowasostatedovotedomoreothanoonce.oItowasocontendedothatonumberoofogenuineo votersoseekingotoocastotheirovote,owereounableotoodoosooasosomebodyohado alreadyocastotheirovoteobyoimpersonation.oBunglingoinocastingoofovotes,oitowaso contendedowasocommittedobyorespondentono.5owithotheosameobeingofacilitatedo byotheoconcernedoofficers.oArgumentsoasoaddressedoinotheoearlieropetitiono wereoaddressedoinothisocaseoasowellowithotheoadditionothatoinotheopresentocase,o petitioner,o alsoo seekso stricto actiono againsto theo connivingo officerso whoo facilitatedocastingoofobogusovotes.oItowasothusoprayedothatosaidowritopetitiono beo allowedo ando pollingo process/electiono heldo ono 02.11.2022,o wherebyo respondentono.5ohasobeenodeclaredoelected,obeosetoasideowithostrictoactiono beingotakenoagainstotheoconcernedoofficials.o CWPoNo.o27530oofo2022.o o o PetitioneroinothisocaseocontestedoelectionotootheopostoofoSarpancho ofo villageo Indana,o Tehsilo Punhana,o Districto Mewato (Nuh)o ino whicho respondentono.5owasodeclaredoelected.o o o PrayeroinothisowritopetitionoisoidenticaloasotheooneoinoCWPoNo.o 27525oofo2022.oo o o Itowasocontendedothatorespondentono.5oinothisowritopetitionowaso CWPoNos.o26255,o27525oando27530oofo2022o(O&M)8o2023:PHHC:053349-DBo declaredoelectedobyoaomarginoofo21ovotesoonlyoonoaccountoofofakeoandoboguso votesocastoinohisofavour.oIdenticaloargumentsoasoinoCWPoNo.o27525oofo2022o areoraisedobyolearnedocounseloforotheopetitioneroinothisocaseoasowell.oo o o Learnedo counselo foro theo respondent-Stateo ando privateo respondentso haveo strenuouslyo urgedo thato presento writo petitionso areo noto maintainableoandotheoonlyoremedyoavailableowithotheopetitionersowasotoofileo anoelectionopetition.oLearnedocounseloforotheorespondent-Stateosubmittedothato electionsowereoconductedopeacefullyoandoinoaccordanceowithotheoprovisionso ofolaw.oAllegationoasoraisedobyotheopetitionersoregardingocastingoofoboguso voteso haso beeno deniedo whileo submittingo thato electionso wereo conductedo peacefully.oFurthermore,opetitionersoinoallotheowritopetitions,oitoisocontendedo neverosubmittedoanyoapplicationoraisingoobjectionsoasohasobeenodoneobeforeo thisoCourt.oNooapplicationoalongowithodepositoasoperoRuleo48oofotheo1994o Rules,owhichoprovidesoforochallengingoidentityoofotheopersonoclaimingotoobeoao particularovoter,owasoeverosubmittedobyotheopetitioners.oLearnedocounseloforo theoStateospecificallyoinoreferenceotooavermentsoinoCWPoNo.o26255oofo2022o submitsothatoneitherotheopetitionerothereinoorohisopollingoagent,opresentoatotheo pollingoboothoraisedoanyoobjectionowhenotheovoteronamelyoSahilocastohisovoteo noro waso requisiteo feeo aso pero Ruleo 48o ofo theo 1994o Ruleso deposited.o Saido submissionohasobeenomadeoonotheobasisoofowrittenoinstructionsofromoVijayo Kumar,oPresidingoOfficer/ReturningoOfficer,ovillageoKarsindhuo(BoothoNo.o 58).oItoisothusoprayedothatoallotheseowritopetitionsobeodismissed.o o o Weo haveo heardo learnedo counselo foro theopartieso atolengtho ando haveogoneothroughotheofilesowithotheiroableoassistance.o o o Ato theo outset,o beforeo adjudicatingo upono theo respectiveo submissions,oweoconsideredoitoappropriateotooreferotootheorelevantoapplicableo provisions.o Electionso ino questiono relateo too Gramo Panchayat,o therefore,o CWPoNos.o26255,o27525oando27530oofo2022o(O&M)9o2023:PHHC:053349-DBo provisionso ino Parto IXo ofo theo Constitutiono ofo India,o whicho dealo witho Panchayatso areo relevant.o Articleo 243B,o 243C,o 243Ko ando 243Oo areo reproducedoasohereunder:-o Article-243B.oConstitutionoofoPanchayats.-o(1)oThereoshallobeo constitutedo ino everyo State,o Panchayatso ato theo village,o intermediateo ando districto levelso ino accordanceo witho theo provisionsoofothisoPart.o

(2)oNotwithstandingoanythingoinoclauseo(1),oPanchayatsoatotheo intermediateolevelomayonotobeoconstitutedoinoaoStateohavingoao populationonotoexceedingotwentyolakhs.o Article-243C.oCompositionoofoPanchayats.-o

(1)oSubjectotootheoprovisionsoofothisoPart,otheoLegislatureoofoao Stateo may,o byo law,o makeo provisionso witho respecto too theo compositionoofoPanchayats:o o Providedo thato theo ratioo betweeno theo populationo ofo theo territorialoareaoofoaoPanchayatoatoanyoleveloandotheonumberoofo seatsoinosuchoPanchayatotoobeofilledobyoelectionoshall,osoofaroaso practicable,obeotheosameothroughoutotheoState.o

(2)o Allo theo seatso ino ao Panchayato shallo beo filledo byo personso chosenobyodirectoelectionofromoterritorialoconstituenciesoinotheo Panchayatoareaoand,oforothisopurpose,oeachoPanchayatoareaoshallo beodividedointooterritorialoconstituenciesoinosuchomannerothatotheo ratioo betweeno theo populationo ofo eacho constituencyo ando theo numberoofoseatsoallottedotooitoshall,osoofaroasopracticable,obeotheo sameothroughoutotheoPanchayatoarea.o

(3)oo TheoLegislatureoofoaoStateomay,obyolaw,oprovideoforotheo representation―o

(a)o ofotheo Chairpersonsoofo theo Panchayatso atotheo villageolevel,oinotheoPanchayatsoatotheointermediateo levelo or,o ino theo caseo ofo ao Stateo noto havingo Panchayatso ato theo intermediateo level,o ino theo Panchayatsoatotheodistrictolevel;o CWPoNos.o26255,o27525oando27530oofo2022o(O&M)10o2023:PHHC:053349-DBo

(b)oofotheoChairpersonsoofotheoPanchayatsoatotheo intermediateolevel,oinotheoPanchayatsoatotheodistricto level;o

(c)oofotheomembersoofotheoHouseoofotheoPeopleoando theomembersoofotheoLegislativeoAssemblyoofotheo Stateo representingo constituencieso whicho compriseo whollyooropartlyoaoPanchayatoareaoatoaoleveloothero thanotheovillageolevel,oinosuchoPanchayat;o

(d)oofotheomembersoofotheoCounciloofoStatesoandotheo membersoofotheoLegislativeoCounciloofotheoState,o whereotheyoareoregisteredoasoelectorsowithin―o o o o (i)oaoPanchayatoareaoatotheointermediateolevel,o o o o inoPanchayatoatotheointermediateolevel;o o o o (ii)oaoPanchayatoareaoatotheodistrictolevel,oinoo o o o Panchayatoatotheodistrictolevel.o

(4)oo TheoChairpersonoofoaoPanchayatoandootheromembersoofoao Panchayato whethero oro noto choseno byo directo electiono fromo territorialoconstituenciesoinotheoPanchayatoareaoshallohaveotheo rightotoovoteoinotheomeetingsoofotheoPanchayats.o

(5)oo TheoChairpersonoof―o o (a)oaopanchayatoatotheovillageoleveloshallobeoelectedoinosucho manneroasotheoLegislatureoofoaoStateomay,obyolaw,oprovide;oando o (b)oaoPanchayatoatotheointermediateoleveloorodistrictolevelo shallobeoelectedoby,o ando fromo amongst,otheoelectedomemberso thereof.o 243K.oElectionsotootheoPanchayats.o

(1)o Theo superintendence,o directiono ando controlo ofo theo preparationo ofo electoralo rollso for,o ando theo conducto of,o allo electionsotootheoPanchayatsoshallobeovestedoinoaoStateoElectiono CommissionoconsistingoofoaoStateoElectionoCommissionerotoobeo CWPoNos.o26255,o27525oando27530oofo2022o(O&M)11o2023:PHHC:053349-DBo

(2)o oSubjecto too theo provisionso ofo anyo lawo madeo byo theo LegislatureoofoaoState,otheoconditionsoofoserviceoandotenureoofo officeoofotheoStateoElectionoCommissioneroshallobeosuchoasotheo Governoromayobyoruleodetermine:o o ProvidedothatotheoStateoElectionoCommissioneroshallonoto beoremovedofromohisoofficeoexceptoinolikeomanneroandoonotheo likeogroundsoasoaoJudgeoofoaoHighoCourtoandotheoconditionsoofo serviceoofotheoStateoElectionoCommissioneroshallonotobeovariedo toohisodisadvantageoafterohisoappointment.o

(3)oo TheoGovernoroofoaoStateoshall,owhenosoorequestedobyotheo Stateo Electiono Commission,o makeo availableo too theo Stateo ElectionoCommissionosuchostaffoasomayobeonecessaryoforotheo dischargeo ofo theo functionso conferredo ono theo Stateo Electiono Commissionobyoclauseo(1).o

(4)o Subjecto too theo provisionso ofo thiso Constitution,o theo LegislatureoofoaoStateomay,obyolaw,omakeoprovisionowithorespecto tooallomattersorelatingoto,ooroinoconnectionowith,oelectionsotootheo Panchayats.o 243O.oBarotoointerferenceobyocourtsoinoelectoralomatters.o NotwithstandingoanythingoinothisoConstitution,-o

(a)o otheo validityo ofo anyo lawo relatingo too theo delimitationo ofo constituenciesoorotheoallotmentoofoseatsotoosuchoconstituencies,o madeooropurportingotoobeomadeounderoarticleo243K,oshallonotobeo calledoinoquestionoinoanyocourt;o

(b)o onooelectionotooanyoPanchayatoshallobeocalledoinoquestiono exceptobyoanoelectionopetitionopresentedotoosuchoauthorityoandoino suchomanneroasoisoprovidedoforobyoorounderoanyolawomadeobyotheo LegislatureoofoaoState."o o o PartoXVoofotheoConstitutionoofoIndiaodealsowithotheoelectionsoando Articleo329ocreatesoaospecificobaroagainstointerferenceobyoCourtsoinoelectoralo matters.oArticleo329oofotheoConstitutionoofoIndiaoreadsoasounder:-o CWPoNos.o26255,o27525oando27530oofo2022o(O&M)12o2023:PHHC:053349-DBo o o "329.oBARoTOoINTERFERENCEoBYoCOURTSoINoo o o o o ELECTORALoMATTERS.o o o o NotwithstandingoanythingoinothisoConstitution-o

(a)ktheo validityo ofo anyo lawo relatingo too theo delimitationo ofo constituencieso oro theo allotmento ofo seatso too sucho constituencies,omadeooropurportingotoobeomadeounderoarticleo 327o oro articleo 328,o shallo notobeo calledoino questiono ino anyo court;o

(b)konooelectionotooeitheroHouseoofoParliamentoorotootheoHouseooro eitheroHouseoofotheoLegislatureoofoaoStateoshallobeocalledoino questiono excepto byo ano electiono petitiono presentedo too sucho authorityoandoinosuchomanneroasomayobeoprovidedoforobyooro underoanyolawomadeobyotheoappropriateoLegislature."oo o o o ConsequentotooincorporationoofoPartoIXoinotheoConstitutionoofo rdIndiao (73 o Amendmento ofo Acto 1992),o whicho cameo ino forceo w.e.f.,o

24.04.1993,o Haryanao Panchayatio Rajo Act,o 1994,o waso promulgatedo ando enforcedow.e.f.,o22.04.1994.oChaptero20oofotheoPanchayatioRajoAct,odealso witho theo provisionso relatingo too elections.o Sectiono 170o ofo theo Act,o barso jurisdictionoofoallociviloCourtsoandoreadsoasounder:-o "170.ooNooCiviloCourtoshallohaveojurisdiction—oo o(a)oo tooentertainooroadjudicateouponoanyoquestionowhetheroanyo personoisooroisonotoentitledotoohaveohisonameoincludedoinoaolistoofo voters;ooroo

(b)oo tooquestionotheolegalityoofoanyoactionotakenoorodecisiono giveno byo oro undero theo authorityo ofo theo Stateo Electiono Commissionoinoconnectionowithotheopreparation,omaintenanceooro revisionoofoanyosucholist."oo o o Sectiono176oofotheoActoprovidesoforopresentationoofoanoelectiono petitionotootheoCiviloCourtohavingoordinaryojurisdictionoinotheoareaowithino whichoelectionohasobeenooroshouldohaveobeenoheldoandotheosameoisoreadsoaso under:-o o o 176.o Determinationoofovalidityoofoelectionoen9uiryobyojudgeo CWPoNos.o26255,o27525oando27530oofo2022o(O&M)13o2023:PHHC:053349-DBo andoprocedure.o–oo

(1)o Ifo theo validityo ofo anyo electiono ofo ao membero ofo ao Gramo Panchayat,oPanchayatoSamitiooroZilaoParishadooroSarpanchoofo Gramo Panchayat,o Chairmano oro Vice-Chairman,o Presidento oro Vice-Presidento ofo Panchayato Samitio oro Zilao Parishado respectivelyoisobroughtoinoquestionobyoanyopersonocontestingotheo electionoorobyoanyopersonoqualifiedotoovoteoatotheoelectionotoo whicho sucho questiono relates,o sucho persono mayo ato anyo timeo withinothirtyodaysoafterotheodateoofotheodeclarationooforesultsoofo theo electiono ,o presento ano electiono petitiono too theo civilo courto havingo ordinaryo jurisdictiono ino theo areao withino whicho theo electiono haso beeno oro shouldo haveo beeno held,o foro theo determinationoofosuchoquestion.oDeterminatioonoofovalidityoofo electionoenquiryobyojudgeoandoprocedure.oo o o (2)oo Aopetitioneroshallonotojoinoasorespondentotoohisoelectionoo o o o petitionoexceptotheofollowingopersonso:―oo o (a)o whereo theo petitionero ino additiono too challengingo theo o validityo ofo theo electiono ofo allo oro anyo ofo theo returnedo o candidatesoclaimsoaofurtheroreliefothatoheohimselfooroanyo o otherocandidateohasobeenodulyoelected,oallotheocontestingo o candidatesootherothanotheopetitioneroandowhereonoosucho o furtheroreliefoisoclaimed,oallotheoreturnedocandidateso;o o (b)oanyootherocandidateoagainstowhomoallegationsoofoanyoo o corruptopracticesoareomadeoinotheoelectionopetition.oo

(3)o Allo electiono petitionso receivedo undero sub-sectiono (1)o ino o whichotheovalidityoofotheoelectionoofomembersotoorepresento o theosameoelectoralodivisionoisoinoquestion,oshallobeoheardo o byotheosameocivilocourt.oo

(4)o(a)oIfoonotheoholdingosuchoinquiryotheocivilocourtofindsothatoao o candidateohas,oforotheopurposeoofoelectionocommittedoao o corruptopracticeowithinotheomeaningoofosub-sectiono(5)oheo o shallo seto asideo theo electiono ando declareo theo candidateo o disqualifiedoforotheopurposeoofoelectionoandofreshoelectiono o mayobeoheld.oo o o o 1[(aa)oo IfoonoholdingosuchoenquiryotheoCiviloCourtoo o o o o o findsoothat-o CWPoNos.o26255,o27525oando27530oofo2022o(O&M)14o2023:PHHC:053349-DBo

(i)k onotheodateoofohisoelectionoaoreturnedocandidateowaso notoqualifiedotoobeoelected;oo o o o (ii)oo anyonominationohasobeenoimproperlyorejected;ooroo

(iii)o theo resulto ofo theo election,o ino soo faro ito concernso ao returnedo candidate,o haso beeno materiallyo affectedo byo improperoacceptanceoofoanyonominationoorobyoanyocorrupto practiceo committedo ino theo interesto ofo theo returnedo candidateobyoanoagentootherothanohisoelectionoagentoorobyo theoimproperoreception,orefusaloororejectionoofoanyovoteooro theoreceptionoofoanyovoteowhichoisovoidoorobyoanyonon-complianceo witho oro violationo ofo theo provisionso ofo theo ConstitutionoofoIndiaooroofothisoAct,ooroanyorulesooroorderso madeounderothisoAct,oelectionoofosuchoreturnedocandidateo shallobeosetoasideoandofreshoelectionomayobeoheld.;]oo

(b)oIf,oinoanyocaseotoowhicho2[clauseo(a)ooroclauseo(aa)]o doesonotoapply,otheovalidityoofoanoelectionoisoinodisputeo betweenotwoooromoreocandidates,otheocourtoshalloafteroao scrutinyoandocomputationoofotheovotesorecordedoinofavouro ofoeachocandidate,odeclareotheocandidateowhooisofoundotoo haveotheolargestonumberoofovalidovotesoinohisofavour,otoo haveobeenodutyoelectedo:oo Providedothatoafterosuchocomputation,oifoany,oequalityoofovotesoiso foundotooexistobetweenoanyocandidateoandotheoadditionoofooneo voteowilloentitleoanyoofotheocandidateotoobeodeclaredoelected,ooneo additionalovoteoshallobeoaddedotootheototalonumberoofovalidovoteso foundotoohaveobeenoreceivedoinotheofavouroofosuchocandidateooro candidates,o aso theo caseo mayo be,o electedo byo loto drawno ino theo presenceoofotheojudgeoinosuchomanneroasoheomayodetermine.o o o (5)oo Aopersonoshallobeodeemedotoohaveocommittedoaocorruptoo o o o practice-o o (a)owhoowithoaoviewotooinduceoaovoterotoogiveoorotoorefraino fromogivingoaovoteoinofavouroofoanyocandidate,ooffersoorogiveso anyomoneyoorovaluableoconsideration,ooroholdsooutoanyopromiseo ofoindividualoprofit,ooroholdsooutoanyothreatoofoinjuryotooanyo persono;ooro o (b)owho,owithoaoviewotooinduceoanyopersonotoostandooronoto CWPoNos.o26255,o27525oando27530oofo2022o(O&M)15o2023:PHHC:053349-DBo too stando oro too withdrawo oro noto too withdrawo fromo beingo ao candidateoatoanoelection,ooffersoorogivesoanyomoneyoorovaluableo considerationooroholdsooutoanyopromiseooroindividualoprofitooro holdsooutoanyothreatoofoinjuryotooanyopersono;ooro o (c)o whoo hireso oro procureso whethero ono paymento oro otherwise,oanyovehicleoorovesseloforotheoconveyanceoofoanyovotero (otherothanotheopersonohimself,otheomembersoofohisofamilyoorohiso agent)otooandofromoanyopollingostation."o o o Learnedocounseloforotheopetitionersoinotheseocasesovehementlyo arguedothatojurisdictionoofothisoCourtounderoArticleo226oofotheoConstitutionoofo IndiaoshouldobeoinvokedowhileosubmittingothatolifeoofotheoelectedoPanchayato isofiveoyearsoandoinocaseopetitionersoareorelegatedotootheiroremedyoofofilingoano electionopetition,oitowouldobeoanoexerciseoinofutilityoandoaocandidateoselectedo onotheobasisoofofakeoorobogusovotesowouldobeoallowedotoocontinueoinoano unjustifiedoandoillegalomanner.oTherefore,oinosuchoaosituation,ofilingoofoano electionopetitionoisoin-factonotoanoappropriateooroefficaciousoremedy.oItowaso contendedothatoallegationsoasoareoraisedoinotheseowritopetitionsodoonotofallo withinotheoambitoofoSectiono176o(5)oofotheoAct.oItowasofurtherosubmittedothato inotermsoofojudgmentoofotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoinoMohinderoSingho GilloVs.oTheoChiefoElectionoCommissioner,oNewoDelhi,o1978o(1)oSCCo 405,o ito iso noto thato jurisdictiono ofo thiso Courto undero Articleo 226o ofo theo Constitutiono ofo India,o iso oustedo ino allo situations.o Presento iso ao case,o ito iso contendedowhichocallsoforointerferenceobyothisoCourt,oatothisostageoitself.oo o o However,oweodoonotofindoanyomeritoinotheoargumentsoraisedobyo learnedocounseloforotheopetitioners.oThisoisosooforotheoreasonothatoitohasobeeno heldoinoaonumberoofodecisionsobyotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoasowelloasoFullo BenchoofothisoCourt;obesidesoaonumberoofodecisionsorenderedobyoDivisiono BenchoofothisoCourtothatoinosucholikeomatters,oCourtoshouldostayoitsohandsoato thiso stage.o Ino theo caseo ofo N.M.o Ponnuswamio Vs.o Returningo Officer,o CWPoNos.o26255,o27525oando27530oofo2022o(O&M)16o2023:PHHC:053349-DBo NamakkaloConstituencyoandoothers,o1952oAIRo64,oSixoJudgeoBenchoofotheo Hon'bleoSupremeoCourtohasoheldoasounder:-o "9.o oTheoquestiononowoarisesowhetherotheolawoofoelectionsoino thisocountryocontemplatesothatothereoshouldobeotwooattacksoono mattersoconnectedowithoelectionoproceedings,ooneowhileotheyoareo goingoonobyoinvokingotheoextraordinaryojurisdictionoofotheoHigho Courto undero articleo 226o ofo theo Constitutiono (theo ordinaryo jurisdictionoofotheocourtsohavingobeenoexpresslyoexcluded),oando anotheroafterotheyohaveobeenocompletedobyomeansoofoanoelectiono petition.o Ino myo opinion,o too affirmo sucho ao positiono wouldo beo contraryotootheoschemeoofoPartoXVoofotheoConstitutionoandotheo RepresentationoofotheoPeopleoAct,owhich,oasoIoshallopointoouto later,o seemso too beo thato anyo mattero whicho haso theo effecto ofo vitiatingo ano electiono shouldo beo broughto upo onlyo ato theo appropriateostageoinoanoappropri-oateomannerobeforeoaospecialo tribunaloandoshouldonotobeobroughtoupoatoanointermediateostageo beforeoanyocourt.oXxxxxxx.o

16.ooTheoconclusionsowhichoIohaveoarrivedoatomayobeosummedo upobrieflyoasofollowso:-o

(1)o Havingo regardo too theo importanto functionso whicho theo legislatureso haveo too performo ino democratico countries,o ito haso alwaysobeenorecognizedotoobeoaomatteroofofirstoimportanceothato electionsoshouldobeoconcludedoasoearlyoasopossibleoaccordingotoo timeo scheduleo ando allo controversialo matterso ando allo disputeso arisingo outo ofo electionso shouldo beo postponedo tillo aftero theo electionsoareoover,osoothatotheoelectionoproceedingsomayonotobeo undulyoretardedooroprotracted.oo

(2)oInoconformityowithothisoprinciple,otheoschemeotheoelectiono lawoinothisocountryoasowelloasoinoEnglandoisothatonoosignificanceo shouldo beo attachedo too anythingo whicho doeso noto affecto theo "election";oandoifoanyoirregularitiesoareocommittedowhileoitoisoino progressoandotheyobelongotootheocategoryooroclassowhich,oundero theolawobyowhichoelectionsoareogoverned,owouldohaveotheoeffecto ofovitiatingothe'o'election"oandoenableotheopersonoaffectedotoocallo ito ino question,o theyo shouldo beo broughto upo beforeo ao specialo CWPoNos.o26255,o27525oando27530oofo2022o(O&M)17o2023:PHHC:053349-D o tri2unatio2.omeansoofoanoetiectionopetitionoandonoto2eomadeotheo su2jectoofoaodisputeo2eforeoan.ocourto3hitieotheoetiectionoisoino pro'ress.<o o o /hereafter,o(onG20eoSupremeoCourtoinoMo6.nd,0o2.n<6o$.11;so caseo(23/0a)ohetidoasounder:>o "92. Diffusion, even more elaborate discussion, tends to blur the precision of the conclusion in a judgment and so it is meet that we, synopsize the formulations. Of course, the condensed statement we make is for convenience, not for exclusion of the relevance or attenuation of the binding impact of the detailed argumentation. For this limited purpose, we set down our holdings: 1 (a) Art. 329(b) is a blanket ban on litigative challenges to electoral steps taken by the Election Commission and its officers for carrying forward the process of election to its culmination in the formal declaration of the result.

(b) Election, in this context, has a very wide connotation commencing from the Presidential notification calling upon the electorate to elect and culminating in the final declaration of the returned candidate.

2.(a) The Constitution, contemplates a free and fair election and vests comprehensive responsibilities of superintendence, direction and control of the conduct of elections in the Election Commission. This responsibility may cover powers, duties and functions of many sorts, administrative or other, depending on the circumstances.

(b) Two limitations at least are laid on its plenary character in the exercise thereof. Firstly, when Parliament or any State Legislature has made valid law, relating to or in connection with elections, the Commission shall act in conformity with, not in violation of such provisions but where such law is silent Art. 324 is a reservoir of power to, act for the avowed purpose of, not divorced from pushing forward a free and fair election with CWPoNos.o26255,o27525oando27530oofo2022o(O&M)1=o2023:PHHC:053349-D o expedition. Secondly, the Commission shall be responsible to the rule of law, act bona fide and be amenable to the norms of natural justice in so-far as conformance to such canons can reasonably and realistically be required of it as fairplay-in-action in a most important area of the constitutional order, viz., elections. Fairness does import an obligation to see that no wrongdoer candidate benefits by his own-wrong. To put the matter beyond doubt, natural justice enlivens and applies to the specific case of order for total re-poll, although not in full panoply but in full flexible practicability. Whether it has been compiled with is left open for the Tribunal's adjudication.

¶3The conspectus of provisions bearing on the subject of elections clearly expresses the rule that there is a remedy for every wrong done during the election in progress although it is postponed to the post election stage and procedure as predicated in Art. 329(b) and the 1951 Act. The Election Tribunal has, under the various provisions of the Act, large enough powers to give relief to an injured candidates if he makes out a case and such processual amplitude of power extends to directions to the Election Commission or other appropriate agency to hold a poll, to bring up the ballots or do other thing necessary for fulfillment of the jurisdiction to undo illegality and injustice and do complete justice within the parameters set by the "existing law." (emphasis added) o o 6toisofurtheroo2servedoasounder:>o o 589.o eoconctiudeostatin'othatotheo2aroofoArt.o*"8(2&oisoaso3ideo aso theo dooro of.os.o 7%%oreado 3ithos.o 8@.o /heo 3rito petitiono iso dismissi20eo2utoever.oretiiefo('ivenofactuatioproof&ono3opra.edo foroinotheopendin'oetiectionopetitionoiso3ithinoreach.oBnothisovie3o ofotheotia3ou2iojusoi2ioremeditumoisovindicated,oetiectionoinjusticeo isoavoided,oandotheoconstituenc.oisoatitio3edotoospeakoeffectiveti..o 6notheotii'htoofoandoconditionedo2.otheotia3o3eohaveotiaidodo3n,o 3eodismissotheoappeati.o hereotheodisputeo3hichospiratisotoothiso CWPoNos.o26255,o27525oando27530oofo2022o(O&M)19o2023:PHHC:053349-DBo Courtoisocalculatedotoogetoaoclarificationoofotheolegalocalculusoino anoareaoofonationalomoment,otheopartiesoareotheooccasionobutotheo peopleoareotheobeneficiaries,oandosoocostsomustonotobeovisitedoono aoparticularoperson.oEachopartyowillobearohisoownocosts."o o o InoMohinderoSinghoGill'socaseo(Supra),owritopetitioneropleadedo thatoheohadowonotheoelectionsobyoaomarginoofonearlyo2000ovotesowhenotheo respondentothereinointervenedoandocreatedomayhemobyousingomuscleopowero withopostaloballotopapersobeingodestroyed.oDueotoothisoreason,oresultowasonoto declared.oChiefoElectionoCommissioner,owasoapproachedobyotheopetitionerotoo declareotheoresultoofotheoelection,owhoohoweveropassedoanoorderocancellingo theopolloandodirectedore-polloofotheowholeoconstituency.oNoointerferenceowaso causedoinotheosaidomatter.oTheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoinocaseoofoElectiono CommissionoofoIndiaothroughoSecretaryoVs.oAshokoKumaroandoothers,o 2000oAIRo(SupremeoCourt)o2979,oheldoasounder:-o "28.o Electiono disputeso areo noto justo privateo civilo disputeso betweenotwooparties.oThoughothereoisoanoindividualooroaofewo individualsoarrayedoasopartiesobeforeotheoCourtobutotheostakeso ofotheoconstituencyoasoaowholeoareoonotrial.oWhicheverowayo theolisoterminatesoitoaffectsotheofateoofotheoconstituencyoando theo citizenso generally.o Ao conscientiouso approacho witho overridingoconsiderationoforowelfareoofotheoconstituencyoando strengtheningotheodemocracyoisocalledofor.oNeitheroturningoao blindo eyeo too theo controversieso whicho haveo ariseno noro assumingoaoroleoofoover-enthusiasticoactivistowouldodo.oTheo twooextremesohaveotoobeoavoidedoinodealingowithoelectiono disputes.o

30.oToowhatoextentoArticleo329(b)ohasoanooverridingoeffectoono Articleo 226o ofo theo Constitution.o Theo twoo Constitutiono BenchesohaveoheldothatoRepresentationoofotheoPeopleoAct,o 1951oprovidesoforoonlyooneoremedy;othatoremedyobeingobyoano electionopetitionotoobeopresentedoafterotheoelectionoisooveroando thereoisonooremedyoprovidedoatoanyointermediateostage.oTheo CWPoNos.o26255,o27525oando27530oofo2022o(O&M)20o2023:PHHC:053349-DBo nonoobstanteoclauseowithowhichoArticleo329oopensopushesoouto Articleo226owhereotheodisputeotakesotheoformoofocallingoino questionoanoelectiono(seeoparao25oofoMohinderoSinghoGill'so caseo(supra).oTheoprovisionsoofotheoConstitutionoandotheoActo readotogetherodoonotototallyoexcludeotheorightoofoaocitizenotoo approachotheoCourtosooasotoohaveotheowrongodoneoremediedo byoinvokingotheojudicialoforum;oneverthelessotheolessonoiso thatotheoelectionorightsoandoremediesoareostatutory,oignoreotheo trifleso eveno ifo thereo areo irregularitieso oro illegalities,o ando knockotheodoorsoofotheoCourtsowhenotheoelectionoproceedingso inoquestionoareoover.oTwo-prongedoattackoonoanythingodoneo duringotheoelectionoproceedingsoisotoobeoavoidedo-ooneoduringo theo courseo ofo theo proceedingso ando theo othero ato itso termination,oforosuchotwo-prongedoattack,oifoallowed,owouldo undulyoprotractooroobstructotheofunctioningoofodemocracy.o

31.o Theo foundingo fatherso ofo theo Constitutiono haveo consciouslyoemployedouseoofotheowordso'nooelectionoshallobeo calledoinoquestion'oinotheobodyoofoSectiono329(b)oandotheseo wordso provideo theo determinativeo testo foro attractingo applicabilityoofoArticleo329(b).oIfotheopetitionopresentedotoo theoCourto'callsoinoquestionoanoelection'otheobaroofoArticleo 329(b)oisoattracted.oElseoitoisonot.o

32.oForoconvenienceosakeoweowouldonowogenerallyosumoupo ouro conclusionso byo partlyo restatingo whato theo twoo ConstitutionoBenchesohaveoalreadyosaidoandothenoaddingobyo clarifyingo whato followso therefromo ino viewo ofo theo analysiso madeobyousohereinaboveo:-o 1)oIfoanoelection,o(theotermo'election'obeingowidelyointerpretedo sooasotooincludeoallostepsoandoentireoproceedingsocommencingo fromo theo dateo ofo notificationo ofo electiono tillo theo dateo ofo declarationooforesult)oisotoobeocalledoinoquestionoandowhicho questioningomayohaveotheoeffectoofointerrupting,oobstructingo oroprotractingotheoelectionoproceedingsoinoanyomanner,otheo invokingoofojudicialoremedyohasotoobeopostponedotilloafterotheo completingoofoproceedingsoinoelections.o 2)o Anyo decisiono soughto ando renderedo willo noto amounto too CWPoNos.o26255,o27525oando27530oofo2022o(O&M)21o2023:PHHC:053349-DBo "callingoinoquestionoanoelection"oifoitosubservesotheoprogresso ofotheoelectionoandofacilitatesotheocompletionoofotheoelection.o Anythingodoneotowardsocompletingooroinofurtheranceoofotheo electionoproceedingsocannotobeodescribedoasoquestioningotheo election.o 3)oSubjectotootheoabove,otheoactionotakenooroordersoissuedobyo Electiono Commissiono areo openo too judicialo reviewo ono theo well-settledo parameterso whicho enableo judicialo reviewo ofo decisionsoofostatutoryobodiesosuchoasoonoaocaseoofomalaofideo oro arbitraryo exerciseo ofo powero beingo madeo outo oro theo statutoryobodyobeingoshownotoohaveoactedoinobreachoofolaw.o 4)oWithoutointerrupting,oobstructingoorodelayingotheoprogresso ofotheoelectionoproceedings,ojudicialointerventionoisoavailableo ifo assistanceo ofo theo Courto haso beeno soughto foro merelyo too correctoorosmoothenotheoprogressoofotheoelectionoproceedings,o tooremoveotheoobstaclesotherein,oorotoopreserveoaovitalopieceo ofo evidenceo ifo theo sameo wouldo beo losto oro destroyedo oro renderedoirretrievableo byo theotimeo theo resultsoareodeclaredo andostageoisosetoforoinvokingotheojurisdictionoofotheoCourt.o 5)oTheoCourtomustobeoveryocircumspectoandoactowithocautiono whileoentertainingoanyoelectionodisputeothoughonotohitobyotheo baroofoArticleo329(b)obutobroughtotooitoduringotheopendencyo ofoelectionoproceedings.oTheoCourtomustoguardoagainstoanyo attemptoatoretarding,ointerrupting,oprotractingoorostallingoofo theoelectionoproceedings.oCareohasotoobeotakenotooseeothato thereoisonooattemptotooutiliseotheoCourt'soindulgenceobyofilingo aopetitionooutwardlyoinnocuousobutoessentiallyoaosubterfugeo oropretextoforoachievingoanoulterioroorohiddenoend.oNeedlesso toosayothatoinotheoveryonatureoofotheothingsotheoCourtowouldo actowithoreluctanceoandoshallonotoactoexceptoonoaoclearoando strongo caseo foro itso interventiono havingo beeno madeo outo byo raisingo theo pleaso witho particularso ando precisiono ando supportingotheosameobyonecessaryomaterial."o o o o o o InocaseoofoLaxmibaioVs.oCollector,oNandedoandoothers,o2020o AIRo (Supremeo Courto )3393,o theo positiono ino thiso regardo waso yeto againo CWPoNos.o26255,o27525oando27530oofo2022o(O&M)22o2023:PHHC:053349-DBo reiteratedowhileoholdingothato"Onceoalternateomachineryoisoprovidedobyotheo statute,otheorecourseotoowritojurisdictionoisonotoanoappropriateoremedy.oItoisoao prudentodiscretionotoobeoexercisedobyotheoHighoCourtonototoointerfereoinotheo electionomatters,oespeciallyoafterodeclarationoofotheoresultoofotheoelections,obuto relegateopartiesotootheoremedyocontemplatedobyotheostatute."o o o Referenceobyolearnedocounseloforotheopetitionersotootheojudgmento ofothisoCourtoinoLaloChandoVs.oStateoofoHaryana,o1998o(3)oRCRo(Civil)o 255,oisoclearlyomisplacedoinoviewoofotheosubsequentojudgmentoofotheoLargero Bencho ino Hirao Singh'so case,o wherebyo theo findingso ino Lalo Chand'so caseo (Supra)ohaveobeenoheldotoobeoanoincorrectoenunciationoofotheolaw.oInotheo presentocase,olearnedocounseloforotheopetitionersoareounableotoopointooutoasotoo howojudicialointerventionoatothisostageoisocalledoforoandowouldobeoanoexerciseo foromerelyocorrectingoorosmoothingooutotheoprogressoofoelectionoproceedings.oo o o Argumentoraisedoonobehalfoofotheopetitionersothatoquestionoofo castingoofobogusovotesocannotobeoaogroundoforosettingoasideoanoelectionoinoano electionopetitionoisoclearlyomisplacedoandountenable,ohenceorejected.oSectiono 176o(4)o(aa)o(iii)oofotheo1994oAct,oclearlyoprovidesothat:-o o o "(aa)o IfoonoholdingosuchoenquiryotheoCiviloCourtofindsothat:-o o o o xxxxxxo

(iii)o theo resulto ofo theo election,o ino soo faro aso ito concernso ao returnedocandidate,ohasobeenomateriallyo affectedobyoimpropero acceptanceo ofo anyo nominationo oro byo anyo corrupto practiceo committedoinotheointerestoofotheoreturnedocandidateobyoanoagento othero thano hiso electiono agento oro byo theo impropero reception,o refusaloororejectionoofoanyovoteoorotheoreceptionoofoanyovoteo whichoisovoidoorobyoanyonon-complianceowithooroviolationoofotheo provisionsoofotheoConstitutionoofoIndiaooroofothisoAct,ooroanyo rulesooroordersomadeounderothisoAct,oelectionoofosuchoreturnedo candidateoshallobeosetoasideoandofreshoelectionomayobeoheld."o CWPoNos.o26255,o27525oando27530oofo2022o(O&M)23o2023:PHHC:053349-DBo o o Atothisostage,oitoisoalsoorelevantotoonoteothatodisputedoquestionso ofo facto areo involvedo ino theo writo petitionso witho theo Stateo denyingo allo allegationsoofoelectiononotobeingoconductedoinoaofairoandofreeomanner.oTheo sameo cano clearlyo noto beo subjecto mattero ofo adjudicationo ino presento proceedings.oWeodoonotofindoanyogroundowhatsoeverotoointerfereoinotheseo matterso ato thiso stageo ando exerciseo jurisdictiono undero Articleo 226o ofo theo ConstitutionoofoIndiaoforosettingoasideotheoelectionsotootheopostoofoSarpanch,o wherebyorespectiveorespondentsohaveobeenodeclaredoelected.oo o o Learnedocounseloforotheopetitionersoinotheoalternateosubmittedo thato petitionerso beo permittedo too fileo electiono petitiono ino termso ofo theo provisionsoofotheoActoandoperiodoofo30odaysoforofilingoofotheoelectionopetitiono beoextendedoasopresentowritopetitionsohadobeenofiledowithinotheostipulatedo periodoofo30odays.oYetoagainoweofindonoomeritoinotheopleaoraised.oDivisiono BenchoofothisoCourtoinoRajeshoKumaroVs.oStateoofoHaryanaoandoothers,o 2019o(2)oRCRo(Civil)o652,owhileorejectingoaosimilaroprayeroheldoasounder:-o "9.o Itoisoaowellosettledolegalopositionoparticularlyoinotheocaseoofo electionomattersothatotheoelectionsoareogovernedobyotheostatuteo andonotobyocommonolawoconsiderations.oAnoelectionopetitionero isoboundotoofollowotheoprovisionsoofotheostatute.oInothatoviewoofo theo matter,o weo areo ofo theo viewo thato theo remedyo ofo filingo ofo electionopetitionobeforeotheoappropriateoTribunalowasoavailableo tootheopetitionerowhoohasoinsteadooptedotoofileotheopresentowrito petition.o

10.oo Learnedocounseloforotheopetitionerofurtherosubmitsothatoheo hadoearlierofiledotwoopetitionsoinothisoCourtoafterotheoresultoofo electionso waso declaredo ando thiso Courto hado issuedo certaino directionso too theo Electiono Commissioner,o Stateo Electiono Commissionero ando Deputyo Electiono Commissioner.o Weo areo afraidosuchodirectionsocouldobeogivenoafterotheodeclarationoofotheo resultoofoelectionsoinotheolightoofotheobarounderoArticleo243-0(b).o CWPoNos.o26255,o27525oando27530oofo2022o(O&M)24o2023:PHHC:053349-DBo

11.oo Learnedo counselo foro theo petitionero nexto contendedo thato thisoCourtoshouldoallowotheopetitionerotoofileoelectionopetitiono nowobecauseotheopresentowritopetitionowasofiledobonaofideoando thatotooowithinooneomonthoofotheodeclarationoofotheoresultoofo elections.oWeodoonotoagreeowithotheosubmissionomadeobyotheo learnedocounseloforotheopetitionerosinceoatotheooutsetoweodoonoto findo thato thereo areo anyo bonao fideso ino filingo theo writo petitiono directly.oTheopetitioneroisodeemedotooknowotheoaforesaidobar.oHeo cannotosayothatoheodidonotoknowotheolaw.oSecondly,oweofindothato theo legalo rightso haveo nowo beeno crystallizedo ino favouro ofo theo electedo persono whicho cannoto beo disturbedo ino theo mannero suggestedo byo theo learnedo counselo foro theo petitioner.o Weo are,o therefore,onotoimpressedowithotheosubmissionomadeobyolearnedo counseloforotheopetitioner."o o o Weo areo fullyo consciouso ofo theo decisiono ofo Hon'bleo Supremeo Courto ino Westo Bengalo Stateo Electiono Commissiono ando otherso Vs.o Communisto Partyo ofo Indiao (Marxist)o ando otherso 2018o (18)o SCCo 141,o whereinoitowasoobservedothato'onceotheoelectionoprocessohasocommenced,oitoiso triteolawothatoitoshouldonotobeointerdictedomidostage.oTheoelectoraloprocessoiso affordedosanctityoinoaodemocracy.oThatoisotheoreasonowhyoinoaoconsistentolineo ofoprecedent,othisoCourtohasoinsistedouponotheodisciplineoofotheolawobeingo followedo soo thato anyo challengeo too theo validityo ofo ano electiono haso too beo addressedobyoadoptingotheoremedyoofoanoelectionopetitionoprovidedounderotheo governingostatute.oForothisoCourtotoosetoasideoelectionsotooovero20,000oseatso wouldo beo too prejudgeo theo basico issueo aso too whethero ino eacho ofo thoseo constituencies,o theo electiono standso vitiatedo byo obstructiono havingo beeno causedotoocandidatesofromofilingotheironominations.oAogeneraloassumptionoofo thisonatureocannotobeomade.oUltimatelyowhetherothisoisocorrectowouldodependo uponotheoevidenceoadducedoinotheofactsoofoindividualocasesowhereosuchoao grievanceo haso beeno madeo ino ano electiono petition.o Theo Courto haso beeno CWPoNos.o26255,o27525oando27530oofo2022o(O&M)25o2023:PHHC:053349-DBo apprisedo thato approximatelyo 1,700o complaintso wereo filedo ando abouto 168o electionopetitionsohaveobeenoinstituted.oWeoareoemphaticallyoofotheoviewothato anyochallengeotootheoelectionomustotakeoplaceoinoaomannerowhichoisoknownotoo law.'o o o Periodo foro filingo ofo electiono petition/so waso extendedo byo theo Hon'bleoSupremeoCourtoinorespectotoouncontestedoseatsowhileoobservingoaso under:-o "UnderoSectiono 79(1)oao periodo ofo 30o dayso iso prescribedo foro institutingoanoelectionopetition,owhereoaodisputeoarisesoasotootheo validityoofoanoelection.oTheoperiodoofo30odaysocommencesoaftero theodateoofotheodeclarationoofotheoresultsoofotheoelection.oTheo pendencyoofotheseoproceedingsomayohaveodissuadedoaggrievedo individualsofromoseekingorecourseotootheoremedyoofoanoelectiono petition,o particularlyo aftero theo interimo ordero ofo thiso Courto restrainingotheoStateoElectionoCommissionofromonotifyingotheo resultsoofotheoconstituenciesowhereothereowasonoocontest.oWhileo weoareoofotheoviewothatotheovalidityoofotheoelectionsomustobeo testedoinoelectionopetitionsounderoSectiono79(1),otheoquestionoaso too whethero thereo waso ao largeo scaleo obstructiono fromo filingo nominationso iso ao seriouso mattero whicho needso too beo resolved.o ThisoisoparticularlyobecauseoevenotheoElectionoCommission,oaso weohaveoseen,ohadoproceededotootakeonoticeoofotheogrimosituationo whileoextendingotheodateoforotheofilingoofonominations.oHavingo regardotootheoseriousnessoofotheoallegationsoandobearingoinomindo theofactothatotheseoproceedingsowereopending,oweoareoofotheoviewo thatoitowouldobeonecessaryotooexerciseotheopowerounderoArticleo 142oofotheoConstitutionotooextendotheoperiodoofo30odaysoforotheo filingoofoelectionopetitionsoinorespectoofotheouncontestedoseats."o o o Apartofromotheofactothatoitowasodulyonotedoinotheosaidodecisiono thatointerimoorderohadobeenopassedobyotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtorestrainingo theo Stateo Electiono Commissiono fromo notifyingo theo resultso ofo theo constituenciesowhereothereowasonoocontest,oextensionoinotheoperiodoforofilingo CWPoNos.o26255,o27525oando27530oofo2022o(O&M)26o2023:PHHC:053349-DBo electionopetitionowasoaffordedoinoexerciseoofopowerounderoArticleo142oofotheo ConstitutionoofoIndia.oo o o Accordinglyoweodeclineotheosaidoprayeroforofilingoofoanoelectiono petition.o o o Noootheroargumentohasobeenoraised.o o o Writo petitionso areo accordinglyo dismissedo witho noo ordero aso too cost.o o o o o o o o o o o(oLISAoGILLo)o o o o o o o o o ooooooJUDGEo o o o o o o o o o o (RITUoTAGORE)o Aprilo11,o2023.o o o o o o oooooJUDGEo s.khano o o Whetherospeaking/reasonedo :o oYes/No.o o o o Whetheroreportableo o :o Yes/No.o oo