LAXMI NARAYAN NAYAK Vs. RAMRATAN CHATURVEDI

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The appellant was one of the 11 contestants from Niwadi Legislative Assembly Constituency No. 34 of Madhya Pradesh Vidhan Sabha. The election was held in the months of February/ March, 1985, the polling date of which was on 2-3-1985. The appellant was a nominee, of the Janata Party. The first respondent was sponsored by the Congress Party. As the first respondent had secured majority of votes i.e. by a margin of 5,000 votes over and above his next rival candidate, namely the appellant herein the first respondent was duly declared on 6-3-1985 as successfully elected.

(2.) The appellant presented an election petition in the High Court of Madhya Pradesh at Jabalpur, calling in question the election of the first respondent alleging that the first respondent was guilty of adopting corrupt practices within the meaning of subsecs. (2), (3) and (3A) of S. 123 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 (hereinafter referred to as the 'Act'). It is hardly necessary to stress that the pleadings were traversed and denied by the first respondent in his statement. The High Court dismissed the election petition and hence by this appeal under S. 116A of the Act the appellant challenges the correctness of the decision of the High Court. On the several issues framed upon the pleadings of the parties only issues 3, 4 and 5 are pressed before us as the main grounds in support of the appeal and the rest are given up. Hence for the purpose of the present appeal, we have to examine and deal with these three relevant issues alone as set out by the High Court. These issues are:-

(3.) High Court which has dealt with on the various aspects of the matter has held that the appellant has not substantiated all the charges levelled by him against the first respondent challenging the declaration of the first respondent as having been duly elected.