HEERA BHIMRAO DANGE Vs. DIVISIONAL COMMISSIONER

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Heard Mr. Dafle, learned counsel for the petitioner and Ms. Mehta, learned AGP for State.

(2.) The petition challenges the order dtd. 3/2/2022 passed by Respondent No.2 and the subsequent order dtd. 22/4/2022 passed by Respondent No.1, whereby the petitioner has been disqualified under Sec. 14B (1)(a) of the Maharashtra Village Panchayat Act for not having submitted the expenses of the election within the time and in the manner required by the State Election Commission.

(3.) It is contended by Mr. Dafle, learned counsel for the petitioner that the impugned orders are liable to be quashed and set aside as the authorities below have not applied their mind to the contention raised that the election expenses though required to be submitted online at the relevant period which was during the Covid-19 pandemic, as the elections were held on 15/1/2021 and the declaration of the result was on 18/1/2021 and the period within which the election expenses were to be submitted was 30 days therefrom, was indeed submitted physically to the Tahsildar - Respondent No.3.