Judgment

JAGANMOHAN REDDY, J :- We appellant is a voter on the electoral roll of Karnal Assembly Constituency. He challenged the election held on March 11, 1972, for the membership of the Haryana Vidhan Sabha from Kamal Constituency. At that election 16 candidates filed their nominations which were declared as valid nominations. Out of these, eight candidates withdrew their candidature. The respondent and seven others were the contesting candidates. After the polling on March 11, 1972, counting took place on March 12, 1972 and the respondent was declared elected having polled 17719 votes, the other candidates Shanti Devi polled 16857 votes, Balwan Singh 1602 votes, Piyare Lal 1243 votes, Kali Ram 1203 votes, Kalu Ram 616 votes, Radhey Sham 542 votes and Kashmira Singh 180 votes.

2. The appellant filed a petition on April 24, 1972, challenging the election of the respondent Ram Lal on the allegations, inter alia, that the respondent, his election agent and other persons with his consent, had committed various corrupt practices detailed in the petition- as falling within the meaning of sub-ss. (1) to (7) of Section 123 of the Representation of the People Act-hereinafter referred to as