Rajesh Singh v. State Election Commission And ORS.

NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH, BILASPUR WP227 No. 443 of 2015 Rajesh Singh S/o Shri Laxmi Singh Aged About 47 years Candidate For Sarpanch Election Gram Panchayat Jagamahant R/o Jagmahant Tehsil Nawagarh District Janjgir Champa Chhattisgarh ---- Petitioner

Versus

1. State Election Commission Through Chief Election Commissioner, Near D.K.S. ( Old Mantralaya Raipur Chhattisgarh 492001

2. The Sub Divisional Officer Janjgir Chamap, District Janjgir Champa Chhattisgarh

3. Returning Officer Through Tahsildar Navagarh Dsitrict Janjgir Champa Chhattisgarh

4. Returning Officer Nagar Palika Parishad Janjgir Naila District Janjgir Champa Chhattisgarh

5. Returning Officer Nagar Palika Parishad Akaltara District Janjgir Champa Chhattisgarh

6. Prashant Singh S/o Sajivan Singh Aged About 29 Years Returned Candidate For Sarpanch Gram Panchayat Jagmohan District Janjgir Champa Chhattisgarh

7. Sushilchand Dinkar Presiding Officer Polling Station 157, Working As Lecturer Panchayat At Government Higher Secondary School Sasaha District Janjgir Champa Chhattisgarh

8. Rajesh Kumar Tamboli Presiding Officer Polling Station 157, Working As Lecturer Panchayat At Government Higher Secondary School Sasaha District Janjgir Champa Chhattisgarh ---- Respondents For Petitioner :

Shri Shailendra Dubey, Advocate For Respondent/State :

Shri Manish Nigam, Panel Lawyer For Respondent No.6 :

Ms. Seema Singh, Advocate Order On Board 24/07/2015 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, 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'), 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 respondent No.6 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 respondent No.6 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.6 under Section 122 of Panchayat Raj Adhiniyam, 1993 (for short 'the Act of 1993') read with Rules of 1995. Prayer has been made by the election petitioner that the election of respondent No.6 be declared null and void. The election petitioner has also prayed re-election on the post of Sarpanch 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 return 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