(A) Election and Reservation - Reservation for the office of Chairman of a local body - Quashing of reservation by the lower court and direction to reconsider in accordance with relevant rules - Stay of operation of the order granted by the higher court due to the commencement of the election process - Completion of elections during the period of stay - Impugned judgment set aside as elections are already over, while the question of law is kept open.

Facts of the case:
The lower court quashed the reservation provided for the office of the Chairman of a local body for a specific term and directed the competent authority to reconsider the issue according to relevant rules. The higher court stayed this order because the election process had already commenced. On account of the stay, the election process continued and was concluded.

Findings of Court:
The court observed that since the election process was already completed due to the stay, it would be appropriate to set aside the lower court's judgment. The court further noted that any party aggrieved by the outcome of the election is free to pursue the matter before the appropriate forum.

Issues: Whether the order quashing the reservation for the office of the Chairman of a local body should be maintained after the election process was completed under a stay.

Ratio Decidendi: If an election process is completed during the operation of a stay on a judgment quashing reservations, the judgment may be set aside to avoid disrupting the completed process, provided the legal question is kept open and parties are permitted to challenge the results in the appropriate forum.

Result: Appeal allowed.