(1.) ORDER :-
(2.) THE respondent, Smt. Nandini Satpathy, was elected as a member of the Orissa Legislative Assembly in a by election from the Cuttack City Assembly Constituency. THE polling in this Constituency took place on 26-11-1972. On 10-1-1973, which was the last date under the law for the presentation of an election petition, Shri Ajit Prasad Narayan Singh, alleging himself to be an "elector" of the aforesaid Constituency presented or filed the election petition in question challenging the election of the respondent on the ground, inter alia, that the respondent has herself committed various corrupt practices or has connived at commission of such corrupt practices by other persons. Till 19-6-1973, this petition was being dealt with by the Chief Justice who settled the Issues and some interim matters and on 28-6-1973, he passed the following order :
(3.) THE trend of the decisions of the Supreme Court in the aforesaid cases is in full accord with Article 329 of the Constitution, which runs as follows: