JUDGMENT

ALAGIRISWAMI, J.:—This appeal relates to the election to the Parliament from the Fazilka constituency in Punjab held on 5 th March, 1971. The Parliamentary constituency consisted of eight assembly constituencies of Malout, Muktsar, Gidderbha. Fazilka, Jalalbad, Abohar, Lambi and Faridkot. The votes were counted on 10 th and 11th of March at five different places. The counting of the votes of the Malout Assembly constituency was held on 10 th March by Mr. Aggrawal, Assistant Returning Officer, of Muktsar and Gidderbha on 10 th and 11 th by Mr. Sayal, of Fazilka and Jalalbad on the 10 th and 11 th by Mr. Mahajan of Lambi and Abohar on the 10 th and 11th by Mr. Ram Lal and of Faridkot on the 11 th by Mr. Garg. 6409 votes were declared invalid and the 1 st respondent was declared elected having secured 1,52,677 votes. The appellant obtained 1,47,354 votes. There were six other candidates about whom it is not necessary to refer.

2. A number of allegations were made in the election petition about many irregularities that took place on the date of the polling. It is not necessary to refer to them as the issues concerned with them were not pressed even before the High Court Only tw