MOHAN LAL DIWAKAR Vs. STATE OF CG

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THE petitioner has preferred this writ petition questioning the legality, propriety and correctness of the order dated 11-10-2005 passed by the Additional Collector. Janjgir-Champa, in Election petition No. 07/A-89(21) 2004-05 whereby learned Additional Collector while allowing the said eletion petition declared the election of the petitioner as illegal on the ground that the petitioner was not eligible to contest the election and ultimately, while setting aside the election, the post of Member, Janpad Panchayat, Navagarh was declared as vacant. Brief facts leading to filing of this writ petition are that the petitioner herein along with other candidates contested for the post of Member of Janpad Panchayat No.25, Navagarh in the year 2005 and the election for the said post was held on 15-1-2005. At the end of counting of votes the petitioner herein was declared elected. However, respondent No.6 Ringu Lal filed an election petition (Annexure-P/1) before the Collector, Janjgir-Champa on the ground that on the date when the petitioner herein filed & nomination government dues were outstanding against him as the petitioner was Sarpanch for two terms of Gram Panchayat Kataud and in that capacity in the year 1985 he took advance for the construction of the Panchayat Bhawan but he did not complete the construction. An amount of Rs. 14, 313/- was outstanding against him, therefore, the Naib Tehsildar, Janjgir initiated the proceeding for recovery of the said amount and that has not been recovered so far. Even said Mohanlal again withdrew the amount for construction of the building of the Primary School of Kataud and said building was not completed, therefore, Janpad Panchayat, Navagarh initiated the proceeding for recovery of the amount of Rs. 27,158/- on 6-10-1994 and the said amount has also not been paid. Notices were issued on the said election petition and reply was filed by the petitioner herein in which he denied the allegations. However, learned Additional Collector summoned the record regarding recovery from the Chief Executive Officer of the Janpad Panchayat. He also requisitioned the declaration made by the petitioner herein before the Returning Officer and after perusal of the record passed the impugned order. The main grievance of learned counsel for the petitioner is that learned Additional Collector without following the procedure as envisaged under the Chhattisgarh Panchayats (Election Petitions Corrupt Practices and Disqualification for Membership) Rules, 1995 (for short 'the Rules, 1995) has passed the impugned order.

(2.) LEARNED counsel for the petitioner submitted that no opportunity was given to the petitioner to meet the charges leveled against the petitioner regarding outstanding amount nor any witness was produced by the petitioner in order to prove the document regarding outstanding amount against the petitioner, nor the petitioner was allowed to adduce any evidence in order to refute the charges regarding outstanding amount against the petitioner. Having heard learned counsel for the parties, I have perused the impugned order. Perusal of the impugned order shows that procedure as envisaged under Rules 11 and 12 of the Rules, 1995 has not been followed. Rule 11(1) envisaged that "Subject to the provisions of these rules, every election petition shall be enquired into by the specified officer as nearly, as may be, in accordance with the procedure applicable under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 to the trial of suits. Provided that it shall only be necessary for the specified officer to make a memorandum of the substance of the evidence of any witness examined by him "and Rule 12 envisages production of the witnesses by the parties.

(3.) THE matter is remanded back to learned Additional Collector, Janjgir to try the election petition in accordance with the Rules, 1995 and pass appropriate order in accordance with law. Porties are entitled for certified copy of this order. Petition Allowed & Remanded.