SHANKAR HARISINGH CHAVAN Vs. STATE OF MAHARASHTRA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) In all these petitions, each of the identically situated petitioners are aggrieved by the order dated 15.2.2018 passed by the District Collector, by which, these petitioners were disqualified under Section 14B(1)(a) for having failed in submitting their accounts of election expenses within 30 days from the date of the election.

(2.) I have heard the learned Advocates and the learned AGP on behalf of the respective sides on 19.10.2018 and today. Considering that the crucial issue that arises in this matter, which was never properly scrutinized by the authorities below, I have no reason to deal with the entire submissions of the learned Advocates.

(3.) The result of the elections to the Gram Panchayat Ambhoda- Kadam was declared on 3.11.2015. The accounts of election expenses were required to be furnished by these petitioners on /or before 3.12.2015. Each of the petitioners took a stand that they have submitted their accounts on 30.11.2015 to one of the members of the Election Expenses Squad Shri B.K.Pawar. Later on, as the controversy arose before the District Collector, that the accounts were not tendered in proper format, once again the accounts were re-arranged in proper format and tendered before the Collector.