(1.) IN this petition, the defeated candidate has called in question the election of respondent No. 1, Gurdas Singh Badal, from Fazilka Parliamentary constituency. The other respondents are Harnuman Das, Thandu Ram, Doonger, Pirthi Raj, Bhagrawat and Yog Raj, who were the other candidates in the election. The last two are S. Parkash Singh Badal, the then Chief Minister of Punjab, and Shri A. S. Pooni, I. A. S. , Deputy Commissioner, Ferozepore, who was the returning officer. A reply has been filed on behalf of the respondent No. 1 and to that reply, replication has been filed on behalf of the petitioner. No reply has been filed on behalf of Shri Parkash Singh Badal, and Shri A. S. Pooni. On the other hand, they have preferred two applications, Civil Miscellaneous Nos. 25-E and 26-E of 1971, praying that they cannot be impleaded as respondents in the election petition.
(2.) THE case was fixed for today to determine the preliminary objections raised by respondents No. 1, Gurdas Singh Badal. These preliminary objections are as follows:-
(3.) THAT the petitioner has not set out the material particulars which legally entitled him to have an inspection of the ballot boxes and other papers connected with the election or to claim a recount of the votes polled at the election.