PUJA KUMARI Vs. STATE OF BIHAR

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Heard learned counsel for the petitioner, learned counsel for the State and learned counsel for the State Election Commission.

(2.) The present writ petition has been filed for the following relief/s:-

(3.) Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that in the present matter, the petitioner has participated in the election process for election of Chief Councillor/Chairman in the Khusropur Nagar Panchayat held on 28/6/2025 conducted under the aegis of respondent authorities. Counsel submits that the guideline has been issued under which the voting has to be accepted through e-voting also. Counsel submits that the procedure which has been adopted by the Election Commission resulted into duplicacy of voting. He specifically submits that one name of one voter has entered in the offline as well as in the online mode and doubling of the counting of voting took place. It is due to this reason, the other candidate has been selected and the petitioner could not be selected. Counsel submits that he is relying on his pleading particularly paragraph nos.17 and 18 in which he has submitted a tabular list of such duplicate voters and submits that the representation has been made to the CEO, DM and SDO showing the EPIC number that name of those candidates have duplicated in the election process. Counsel has categorically indicated in paragraph no.18 that duplicate voting through two modes took place and the duplicate voting was allowed in two distinct panchayat jurisdictions maintaining two EPIC numbers or slightly varied names under the same family lineage.