BHAGWATI PARSHAD Vs. MOHAN LAL AND OTHERS

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioner and respondents 1 to 21 were candidates for election from Ward No. 1 to the Municipal Committee, Rewari - a double member constituency - and filed their nomination papers on or before January 27, 1968. Respondents 1 to 8, 12, 17 and the petitioners were candidates for the reserved seat while Respondents 10, 11, 13 to 16 and 18 to 21 were candidates for the general seat. Respondent 1 Mohan Lal was declared elected from the reserved seat while Matadin Respondent 21 was declared elected from the general seat. Their election from Ward No. 1 to the Municipal Committee, Rewari, is challenged as illegal and void on the following grounds :-

(2.) The nomination paper filed by Mohan Lal Respondent 1 who was contesting the reserved seat did not comply with sub-rule (2) of Rule 11 of the Punjab Municipal Election Rules, 1952 inasmuch as the declaration of the candidate that he is a member of Jatia Chamar caste which is a Scheduled Caste of the State of Haryana on the nomination paper was not verified by any prescribed authority.

(3.) The petitioner raised these objections before the Returning Officer but the same were dismissed by order dated February 5, 1968. The petitioner filed a revision against that order before the Deputy Commissioner Gurgaon, which was also dismissed on February 15, 1968. The petitioner has now filed the present writ petition to have the orders dated February 5, 1968, and February 15, 1968, quashed.