(1.) THESE matters have been taken up together for hearing as they involve common questions of law and the reliefs prayed for therein will to a large extent be dependant on the answers to the said questions. Furthermore, the Court has also benefitted from the assistance of the several counsels appearing on behalf of the respective parties to arrive at a decision on the issues involved. '
(2.) THESE writ applications are the aftermath of the Panchayet elections conducted in the State on 30th May, 1993, and the challenges thrown to the conduct of the elections in some of the constituencies, though varied are more or less uniform in nature. Sonne of the cases relate to the alleged refusal of the Presiding Officer or the Returning Officer to entertain the applications alleged to have been made for recounting of votes, while others relate to directions given by the State Government for holding repoll. In some such cases, the election results had been declared and Certificates of election in Form 24 had already been issued to the successful candidates when repoll was ordered.
(3.) THE factual aspect apart, the common question of law involved in the majority of these cases is whether the High Court could or should at all interfere in these matters under Article 226 of the Constitution when an alternate and presumably efficacious remedy has been provided for under section 204 of the West Bengal Panchayet Act, 1973. Accordingly, this question will have to be decided first, before we proceed to the other points involved in each of the cases.