LAXMI DEVI Vs. STATE OF UTTARAKHAND

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioner is a candidate for the ongoing election of the local bodies in District Dehradun. The last date of nomination was 24.09.2019.

(2.) The petitioner was earlier debarred from contesting the elections for a period of six years as she had not submitted her election expenses to the State Election Commission, which was the requirement under the law. This was challenged by the petitioner in earlier round of litigation by filing Writ Petition (M/S) No. 2558 of 2019. The writ petition was allowed by this Court vide order dated 12.09.2019 with the direction to the respondents to consider the reply of the petitioner and thereafter pass appropriate orders therein. Consequent to the order of this Court dated 12.09.2019, the State Election Commission considered the reply of the petitioner and passed an order dated 19.09.2019 debarring the petitioner for contesting the panchayat elections for a period of six years. Aggrieved, the petitioner has filed the present writ petition.

(3.) Initially this Court had made an interference in such matters, whereby this Court had asked the State Election Commission to reconsider the matter on the plea of the petitioners that they have not been duly served.