B. SUBHASHAN REDDY, J.

( 1 ) THE decision of the State Election Commission dated 17-8-2001 directing the Election Officer, Giddalur Gram Panchayat to countermand the poll held on 17-8-2001 to elect the Sarpanch and 4th Ward to Gram Panchayat Giddalur is impugned in this writ petition on various grounds.

( 2 ) BEFORE adverting to the question as to whether the impugned decision suffers from any legal or constitutional infirmities, a few relevant facts may have to be noticed.

( 3 ) THE petitioner is one of the contesting candidates for the office of the Sarpanch of Giddalur Gram Panchayat. According to the schedule, the poll was to be held on 17-8-2001 between 7 a. m. and 1 p. m. The first respondent herein has been appointed as Election Officer Stage-II to conduct elections for the office of the Sarpanch of Gram Panchayat, Giddalur, Prakasam District. The poll commenced at 7 a. m. on 17-8-2001 as per the schedule and completed by 1 p. m. in all the 40 polling stations. After completion of formalities, the ballot boxes were transported to the counting centre. The counting process as scheduled has to commence at 2 p. m.

( 4 ) IT is required to notice that one Y. Satyanarayana, one of t

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