JAYMANTI Vs. SMT. TIRITHA BAI & ORS.

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This revision u/s 26 of the M.P. Municipalities Act, 1961 (hereinafter be referred as Act) is directed against the order dated 30.9.2000 passed by Addl. District Judge, Beohari in E.P case No.4/2000.

(2.) Applicant Jaymanti filed her nomination for election to the post of President, Nagar Panchayat, Jaisinghnagar, which was reserved for woman of Scheduled Caste. Due to misprint of applicant's gender i.e., male was wrongly typed instead of female in the voters list, nomination form was rejected. On completion of election, the result was declared and notified in the gazette dated 3.1.2000. Being aggrieved by the rejection of nomination, applicant filed petition u/s 20 of the Act challenging the election aforesaid. This petition was filed on 10.2.2000. As it was barred by 8 days time, application u/s 5 Limitation Act was also filed. The Court below while rejecting the application u/s 5 Limitation Act, vide impugned order dated 30.9.2000 has held that the delay in filing petition u/s 20 of the Act cannot be condoned. Therefore, the petition as presented was barred by 8 days time. Accordingly, it has been dismissed. The revision is mainly on the ground that where sufficient reason was shown for 8 days delay, the Court below ought not to have rejected the application.

(3.) Learned counsel for the applicant contended that the limitation would start from 10.1.00, however as stated the result was notified in Raj Patra dated 3.1.2000. Section 20(3) of the Act is as under: