NORATA RAM Vs. THE STATE OF PUNJAB

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THIS order will dispose of Civil Writs Nos. 711 and 712 of 1963.

(2.) THE petitioners in both these petitions were the members of the Municipal Committee, Budhlada, district Bhatinda. They were removed by the State Government by two notifications issued in the exercise of its powers under section 16(1)(e) of the Punjab Municipal Act -hereinafter referred to as the Act. They have further been disqualified from contesting the municipal elections for a period of one year. The facts in both these petitions are identical, excepting that in the case of Naurata Ram the lessee of the municipal shop was his brother Madan Lal and in the case of Sugna Ram, he himself was the lessee of the shop. The petitioners were issued a show -cause notice each, the relevant part of which is as follows :

(3.) THE first contention of the learned counsel for the petitioners is that no doubt rule 3 -A of the Rules framed under section 240 of the Municipal Act, which is in these terms :