SupremeToday Landscape Ad
Back
Next
Judicial Analysis Court Copy Headnote Facts Arguments Court observation
Listen Audio Icon Pause Audio Icon
judgment-img

2008 Supreme(SC) 922

2008(4) Supreme 261
SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
A.K. Mathur and Altamas Kabir, JJ.
Sudarsha Avasthi — Petitioner
versus
Shiv Pal Singh — Respondent
Civil Appeal No. 6807 of 2005
Decided on : 16-05-08

IMPORTANT POINT
The election petition is a serious matter and it cannot be treated lightly or in fanciful manner nor is it given to a person who uses this as a handle for vexatious purpose.

Headnote:Representation of the People Act, 1951 – Sections 82 & 83Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 – Order VI Rule 16 read with Order VII Rule 11 – Election Petition by appellant challenging declaration of Respondent’s election to the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council to be void alleging Corrupt practices – Dismissed – Single Judge after taking into consideration grounds of corrupt practice along with allegations contained in election petition held that it appeared to be cock and bull story-Single judge observed that it was not believable that real brother of Respondent would accept illegal gratification in public view, that too inside Court room of Commissioner – Failure on part of appellant to disclose name of any witness who was present inside court room or outside when money was handed over to brother of Respondent-Similarly theory of giving Rs.30,000/- as bribe to Respondent 4 in office of Commissioner appeared to be nothing but figment of imagination – The election petition is a serious matter and it cannot be treated lightly or in fanciful manner nor is it given to a person who uses this as a handle for vexatious purpose – The allegations made in petition as disclosed in election petition appeared to be totally a cock and bull story – Single Judge had gone through all allegations and it appeared to be most unbelievable and impracticable sequence of events-Single Judge correctly appreciated that instant case lacked in particularity any allegation of bribery as contained in Section 123 read with Section 83 of the Act – Appeal having no merit dismissed. (Paras 6 to 10)

       Facts of the Case :

        Election Petition was filed by appellant herein in the instant case challenging declaration of Respondent’s election to the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council to be void alleging Corrupt practices.

       Findings of the Court :

        Single Judge after taking into consideration grounds of corrupt practice along with allegations contained in election petition held that it appeared to be cock and bull story. Single judge observed that it was not believable that real brother of Respondent would accept illegal gratification in public view, that too inside Court room of Commissioner. Appellant failed to disclose name of any witness who was present inside court room or outside when money was handed over to brother of Respondent. Similarly theory of giving Rs.30,000/- as bribe to Respondent4 in office of Commissioner appeared to be nothing but figment of imagination. The allegations made in petition as disclosed in election petition appeared to be totally a cock and bull story. Single Judge after going through all allegations held that it appeared to be most unbelievable and impracticable sequence of events. Single Judge correctly appreciated that instant case lacked in particularity any allegation of bribery as contained in Section 123 read with Section 83 of the Act. Appeal having no merit was dismissed

       Result : Appeals dismissed.

       Cases referred :

       1. Roop Lal Sathi v. Machhattar Singh AIR 1982 SC 1559 – Distinguished. (Para 8)

       2. F.A.Sapa & Ors. v. Singora & Ors., (1991) 3 SCC 375 – Distinguished. (Para 8)

       3. T.M.Jacob v. C. Poulose & Ors., (1999) 4 SCC 274 – Distinguished. (Para 8)

       4. Sardar Harcharan Singh Brar v Sukh Darshan Singh & Ors. (2004) 11 SCC 196 – Distinguished. (Para 8)

       5. Harkirat Singh v. Amrinder Singh (2005) 13 SCC 511 – Distinguished. (Para 8)

JUDGMENT

A.K. Mathur, J. —

1. Both these appeals involve common question of fact and law, therefore, they are disposed of by this common order. For convenient disposal of both the case, the facts given in C.A.No.6807 of 2005 (Sudarsha Avasthi v. Shiv Pal Singh) are taken into consideration.

2. This civil appeal is directed against the order passed by learned Single Judge of the High Court of Judicature at Allahabad, Lucknow Bench, Lucknow by which three election petitions were disposed of one by the appellant, Jitendra Nath Pandey and Sharad Tiwari by the common order. The appellant before us, Sudarsha Avasthi filed an election petition being Election Petition No.3 of 2002 for declaration of Shiv Pal Singh’s election to the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council to be void on various grounds. The appellant was an elector in the Electoral Roll for election to the Legislative Council of Uttar Pradesh from Lucknow Division Graduates’ Constituency and his name was mentioned at Serial No.1595 of Part No.190 Aliganj Ward Lucknow. The election was held on 2.5.2002 and the result was declared on 7.5.2002. The respondent - Shiv Pal Singh was declared elected. The election of the elected representative- respondent was challenged on the ground that the result of the election had been materially affected by improper acceptance of nomination paper of respondent. Respondent committed corrupt practice by giving money directly to Ram Pratap Singh and Pradeep Kumar with a view to induce them to contest as candidates in the said election. The respondent also committed corrupt practice by giving money to S.P.Singhal with the object of inducing him to withdraw his nomination. Lastly, the respondent committed corrupt practice of procuring assistance in furtherance of his prospects in the election from the Additional Commission (Administration), Lucknow Division who was the Assistant Returning Officer in the said election. A detailed affidavit was filed by the appellant disclosing the material facts of the corrupt practice. The Election petition was contested by the returned candidate-the respondent, Shiv Pal Singh. It was pleaded on behalf of the respondent that the election petition did not disclose any cause of action, pleadings are vague, frivolous and vexatious. The concise statement of material facts and the full particulars of the allegations of corrupt practices had not been disclosed. Therefore, the election petition was liable to be dismissed for non-compliance of the provisions of Sections 82 & 83 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 ( hereinafter to be referred to as the Act). An application was also filed under Order VI Rule 16 read with Order VII Rule 11 of the Code of Civil Procedure (hereinafter to be referred to as the C.P.C.) praying for dismissal of the election petition. The respondent moved an application and prayed that the preliminary issues pertaining to the maintainability of the election petition and the other that the election petition lacked material facts and disclosed no cause of action. Two issues were framed as preliminary issues which read as under:

“1. Whether the election petition preferred by the petitioner is liable to be dismissed as it was presented before the Registrar and not before the Judge of the High Court dealing with the election matter ?

2. Whether the election petition deserves to be dismissed as it does not disclose any cause of action and material facts and the particulars are lacking as alleged at this stage ?

It was also referred by learned Single Judge that during the course of the proceedings, only learned counsel for the respondent- Shiv Pal Singh in Election Petition No.3 of 2002 and the appellant in person submitted their arguments on the preliminary issues as reproduced above. No issues were framed nor any arguments were advanced in the other two election petitions. Therefore, learned Single Judge observed that the order passed in election petition No.3 of 2002 will have no bearing on t





































Click Here to Read the rest of this document
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
SupremeToday Portrait Ad
supreme today icon
logo-black

An indispensable Tool for Legal Professionals, Endorsed by Various High Court and Judicial Officers

Please visit our Training & Support
Center or Contact Us for assistance

qr

Scan Me!

India’s Legal research and Law Firm App, Download now!

For Daily Legal Updates, Join us on :

whatsapp-icon Back to top