RAMESH ROUT Vs. RABINDRA NATH ROUT

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The returned candidate -- Ramesh Rout - whose election to the 14th Orissa Legislative Assembly from 89-Athagarh Assembly Constituency has been set aside by the High Court of Orissa has preferred these two appeals under Section 116A read with Section 116C of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 (for short, 'the 1951 Act').

(2.) The Election Commission of India (for short, 'Commission') in order to constitute 14th Legislative Assembly announced general elections in the State of Orissa to be held in two phases on April 16, 2009 and April 23, 2009. Following this, the Governor of the State of Orissa in exercise of powers conferred under Section 5(2) of the 1951 Act issued a notification which was published in the official gazette on March 28, 2009. The 89 - Athagarh Assembly constituency is one of the 147 Assembly constituencies in the State of Orissa and is 'General' constituency. The Commission appointed the following schedule of election : <FRM>JUDGEMENT_1198_TLPRE0_2011_1.html</FRM>

(3.) On April 4, 2009, at 11.25 A.M., the respondent in Civil Appeal No. 4962 of 2010 - Ranendra Pratap Swain (hereinafter referred to as 'proposed candidate') filed four sets of nomination papers for 89-Athagarh Assembly constituency as a candidate of Biju Janata Dal ('BJD') - a registered and recognized political party in the State of Orissa before the Returning Officer. Seven other candidates including the present appellant also filed their nomination papers at the said election. The check list (ticked original) was issued by the Returning Officer with his signature to the proposed candidate at 11.45 a.m. A copy of the check list (ticked duplicate) was retained by the Returning Officer.