( 1 ) AN important question of law touching the jurisdiction of this Court under art 226 (1) (b) of the Constitution of India to entertain writ petitions against an order of the concerned Returning Officer rejecting or accepting a nomination paper filed in connection with an election to a Taluk Development Board or a village Panchayat under the provisions of the Karnataka Village Panchayats and Local Boards Act, 1959, arises for consideration in these three writ petitions.

( 2 ) IN the first writ petition, the petitioner is aggrieved by the rejection of his nomination paper for election to a Taluk Development Board. In the other two writ petitions, the petitioners are aggrieved by the the acceptance of nominations papers of two candidates for election to a Village Panchayat. The Taluk Development Boards and Village Panchayats in the State are constituted and functioning under the provisions of the Karnataka Village panchayats and Local Boards Act, 1959 (hereinafter referred to as 'the Act' ). The election to the Taluk Development Boards and Village Panchayats is regulated by the common rules called the Karnataka Panchayats and Taluk boards Eleciiou Rules, 1959 (hereinafter referred

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