Smt. Shanti Bai v. State Of Chhattisgarh And ORS.
NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH, BILASPUR WPC No. 791 of 2015 Smt. Shanti Bai W/o Jeet Ram Sahu Aged About 35 years R/o Village- Podi, Janpad Panchayat Navagarh, District- Janjgir Champa- (Chhattisgarh) ---- Petitioner
Versus
1. State Of Chhattisgarh Through : Secretary, Department Of Panchayat And Rural Development, Mantralaya, New Raipur, District- Raipur- (Chhattisgarh)
2. Sub Divisional Officer And Competent Authority, Panchayat Election, Janjgir, DistrictJanjgir Champa- (Chhattisgarh)
3. Collector, Janjgir, District- Janjgir Champa - (Chhattisgarh)
4. Subadra W/o Santosh Sahu
5. Smt. Anita Devi W/o Jitendra Kashyap
6. Smt. Kunti W/o Shambu Sharma Kashyap
7. Smt. Preeti Kaushik W/o Dev Prasad Kashyap
8. Smt. Binda Devi W/o Dilip Kumar Kashyap
9. Smt. Bhajan Bai W/o Ram Kumar Manhar 10.Smt. Hemlata W/o Vijay Kumar Manhar 11.Smt. Ramin Bai W/o Dau Ram Sahu Respondents No. 4 to 11 R/o Village- Podi, Janpad Panchayat Navagarh, DistrictJanjgir Champa- (Chhattisgarh) ---- Respondents For Petitioner :
Shri Sushobhit Singh, Advocate For Respondent No. 1 to 3 /State :
Ms. Sunita Jain, Panel Lawyer For Respondents No. 4 & 11 :
Shri Shailendra Sharma, Advocate on behalf of Shri Shailendra Shukla, Advocate Order On Board 11/08/2015 Heard.
1. A short issue arises for consideration in this petition is as to whether the Election Tribunal was justified in summarily dismissing the election petition.
2. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that once the election petition has been filed, unless on account of non-compliance of the provisions of Rule 3, 4 and 7, summary dismissal as provided in Rule 8 of the Chhattisgarh Panchayats (Election Petitions, Corrupt Practices and Disqualification for Membership) Rules, 1995 (for short 'the Rules of 1995') has to follow, it has to be tried. He submits that the Election Tribunal / SDO Revenue has summarily dismissed the Election Petition without there being any trial whatsoever. The grounds do not pertain to violation of any of the mandatory provisions of Rule 3, 4 or 7 of the Rules of 1995. In support of his submission, learned counsel for the petitioner relies upon number of decisions of this Court - Parvatia Vs. Padmini and ors, 2005 (2) CGLJ 335, Shyam Ratan Vs. Siyaram and ors. (WP No.4270/05) and Bharat Vs. Tularam and ors. [WP (227) ] 2144/10.
3. On the other hand, learned counsel for respondents No. 4 & 11 submits that there exists an alternative remedy of filing appeal. Therefore, the writ petition is not maintainable. Otherwise also, the Election petition has been dismissed because the Election Tribunal found that there was no specific ground requiring trial to be held.
4. The objection of learned counsel for respondents No. 4 & 11 regarding existence of alternative remedy is misconceived in law. An order passed by the Tribunal is final under the provisions of the Act. Therefore, no appeal or revision would be maintainable before any of the authorities constituted under the Act or under the Chhattisgarh Panchayats (Appeal and Revision) Rules, 1995.
5. The petitioner had filed an election petition challenging election of respondent No.4 under Section 122 of Panchayat Raj Adhiniyam, 1993 (for short 'the Act of 1993') read with Rules of 1995. In the election petition, the petitioner prayed for re-counting of votes cast for election of the Gram Panchayat.
6. Curiously enough, the Election Tribunal, without holding any trial as contemplated in the election petition rules, has proceeded to dismiss the election petition in a very perfunctory manner. The election tribunal was completely oblivious of the statutory scheme of the Act of 1993 and Rules made therein which patently requires a trial to be held unless the Election Petition is dismissed summarily under Rule 8 of the Rules of 1995. The grounds on which an election petition could be dismissed without trial, have been exhaustively enumerated in the Rules of 1995. If those grounds, warranting dismissal as stated in Rule 8 of the Rules of 1995, are not available, the Election Tribunal is left with no option but to hold the trial, allow the returned candidate and other candidates who are parties to the Election Petition to file written
statement, frame issue, examine the witnesses and then decide the election petition.
7. The Election Tribunal has completely abdicated of its function by summarily dismissing the election petition. It being a jurisdictional illegality, this Court has to step in and set aside the impugned order.
8. Accordingly, the petition is allowed. The impugned order is set aside and the Election Tribunal is directed to hold trial under statutory scheme of the Act of 1993 and Rules of 1995.
Sd/- (Manindra Mohan Shrivastava) Judge Praveen