( 1 ) THIS Writ Petition is filed aggrieved by the order passed by the Junior Civil Judge, Jedcherla in O. P. No. 1/96 dt. 4-10-99 in which the election of the petitioner as Sarpanch of Alwanpalli Grampanchayat, Jedcherla Mandal, Mahabubnagar District was set aside and the first respondent was declared elected as Sarpanch of the said village.

( 2 ) THE writ petitioner, first respondent and another contested the election to the office of Sarpanch of Alwanpalli Grampanchayat held on 27-6-1995. The writ petitioner was declared elected as Sarpanch of the village by a margin of three votes by the Returning Officer on 21-10-1995. Questioning the declaration of election results, the first respondent herein filed O. P. No. 12/95 before the Principal Junior Civil Judge, Mahabubnagar on 2-11-1995 which was registered on 6-12-1995 and transferred to the Junior Civil Judge, Jedcherla and renumbered as O. P. No. 1/96. The election petitioner stated that the recounting of votes undertaken by the Election Officer pursuant to the Circular No. E/1864/1995 dt. 19-10-1995 issued by the Chief Election Commissioner and announcing results declaring the first respondent elected as Sarpa