Judgment

KRISHNA IYER, J. - Four heavy volumes of case records confronted us in this appeal, as counsel opened the arguments, but some socratic processing seemed to condense the controversy and forensic prolixity so much so we, first thought the case had shrunk to such small dimensions as to be disposed of in a short judgment. But what we initially felt, when the brief narration of facts was given, proved a snare. For, when we read out in court our opinion on the only crucial aspect of the case, counsel for the 1st respondent hopefully insisted that the factual grounds, requiring our Ploughing through ponderous temes of testimenial collection, pleadings and what not, should be investigated as he expected to sustain the invalidation of the election by the High Court on the score of corrupt practice and the consequential disqualification of the rival candidate i. e., the appellant before us. He was entitled to press that part of his case and so we agreed to hear both sides extensively thereon.

2. However, hours of argument after, we were back to square one. At this stage, some relevant facts and circumstances need narration. The Karnataka Legislative Council has, in its composition, s