JUDGMENT

Faizan Uddin, J.-This appeal under Section 116-A of the Representation of People Act, 1951 (hereinafter referred to as the Act) has been directed against the judgment dated November 8, 1993 passed by the High Court of Punjab & Haryana at Chandigarh dismissing the Election Petition No. 13 of 1992 filed by the appellant herein challenging the election of the returned candidate S. Gurcharan Singh, the first respondent.

2. The election for Punjab Legislative Assembly was held in February, 1992. The appellant was sponsored by Shriromani Akali Dal as a candidate from 87-Dirba Constituency while the respondent No. 1 S. Gurcharan Singh was fielded by the Congress party and the respondent No. 2 Chet Singh was a candidate set up by Bahujan Samaj Party. The respondent No. 3 S. Amarjit Singh contested the election from the said constituency as an independent candidate. The date of polling was February 19, 1992 and the result was declared next date i.e. on February 20, 1992 according to which the respondent No. 1 secured the highest number of votes having polled 3072 votes while the appellant had secured only 2624 votes. The respondent No. 2 had polled 1925 votes and the respondent No. 3