JUDGMENT

FAZAL ALI, J.:— Civil Appeal No. 524 of 1978 has been filed by the appellant R. Narayanan who was the respondent before the High Court and in short would be referred to as the appellant. Civil Appeal No. 588 of 1978 has been filed by the appellant after obtaining special leave from this Court and is directed against that part of the order of the High Court which refused to entertain the recrimination petition filed by the appellant. The election petitioner before the High Court for the purpose of brevity will hereafter be referred to as the respondent.

2. Both the appellant and the respondent contested the election held on 11-5-1977. The appellant was a Congress candidate with the symbol of calf and cow whereas the respondent was put forward as a candidate of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kgzhagam and contested with the symbol of "Two Leaves". There were 14 candidates in all whose nominations were found valid but out of them 7 withdrew. The appellant and respondents Nos. 1 to 6 before the High Court remained in the field as contesting candidates. The respondent filed an election petition in the High Court under Section 81 and 84 of the Representation of the People Act