DHOOLIPALA VENKATESWARULU Vs. DISTRICT ELECTION OFFICER; THE INSPECTOR OF LOCAL BOARDS; MUNICIPAL COUNCILS

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The facts in this case are not relevant to the point which we have to decide. The following only is relevant. The Election Officer of Kistna passed an order to which one Mr. Rama Yogi took objection. Mr. Rama Yogi filed an appeal in Form VI in accordance with Rule 12 of the rules for the preparation of Electoral Rolls. That rule says: Any person feeling aggrieved by any order passed under Sub-rule (a) of Rule 11 by the Ejection Officer may prefer an appeal against such order to the election authority or to such person or persons as he may empower for hearing and disposing of such appeals.

(2.) The rule then goes on to prescribe that the appeal shall be in Form VI and shall be addressed to the appellate authority through an Election Officer and presented to the latter within five days of the passing of the order appealed against. Under Sub-rule (2) the Election Officer shall forward every such appeal to the appellate authority together with a statement of the material facts of the case, the relevant papers and his own remarks on the grounds of appeal. The order of the appellate authority on such appeal shall be final and shall not be liable to be questioned in any legal proceeding.

(3.) It would seem on a reading of that rule that what is contemplated is that the appeal to the appellate authority shall be considered by him on the written material forwarded through the Election Officer by the appellant. But under Rule 14 a right is given to the appellant to appear and be heard either in person or by an agent duly authorised in writing. It seems to me that it is for the person appealing to intimate his intention of appearing in person or through an agent because although there is provision under Rule 13 for notice to be sent by the Election Officer to the persons concerned, under Rule 11(a) there is no provision for the appellate authority to give notice to anybody. There is nothing to prevent an appellant intimating his desire to be heard under Rule 14 in his appeal notice in Form VI. I specially wish to guard myself against any suggestion that ample opportunity should not however be given to any person to appear by which I mean that if the appellate authority disposes of the matter in such time that it was impossible for the person aggrieved to intimate to him his intention of appearing, then I think that in such a case this Court might possibly think fit to interfere. But in this case what happened was this. The appeal was filed on the 1 October, 1936. It was disposed of on the 2nd November. Between the 1 October and the 2nd November, Mr. Rama Yogi appears to have done nothing. He did not intimate that he desired to be heard personally or by an agent; he does not appear even to have written to the appellate authority and so on the facts before him, that is, the documents forwarded by the Election Officer, the Inspector disposed of the appeal dismissing it. There is therefore before us no question of jurisdiction.