JUDGMENT

JASWANT SINGH, J. :—These appeals No. 41 and 42 of 1977 by special leave are directed against the common judgment and order dated December 16, 1975 made by the Commissioner, Pune Division Poona, in Election Petitions Nos. COP/81 (43) and COP/81 (42) presented under S. 144-T of the Maharashtra Co-operative Societies Act, 1960 (hereinafter referred to as the Act) read with R. 74 of the Maharashtra Specified Co-operative Societies Elections to Committees Rules, 1971 setting aside the election of the appellants to the Board of Directors of the Shetkari Sahakari Sangh Ltd., Kolhapur (hereinafter referred to as The Sangh) on the ground that they were guilty of corrupt practice as envisaged by S. 144-I (3) of the Act in that special buses were procured on payment from the Kolhapur Municipal Transport with the appellants knowledge and consent and used for the whole day on November 20, 1973 i.e. the day of poll for the free transport of the voters from the Sanghs Head Office in Bhawani Mandap to the polling station in Market Yard and back.

2. The facts and circumstances giving rise to these appeals which lie in a short compass are : The Sangh which is specified Co-operative Society