Shambhu Prasad Singh, J.

1. These two writ applications under Articles 226 and 227 of the Constitution of India arise out of Gram Panchayat elections. As some of the questions involved in them are common, they have been heard together and are being disposed of by this common judgment.

2. The petitioner in C.W.J.C. No. 1572 of 1969 is a voter of Damodarpur Bhojpati Gram Panchayat within Mahua Block, in the District of Muzaffarpur, and has prayed for declaring void and without jurisdiction the election of the said Gram Panchayat held on the 13th of November, 1969. The programme for the election was published, on the 23rd of May, 1969, and nomination papers of various candidates for the different offices of the said Gram Panchayat were received on the 5th of June, 1969. According to the said programme, polling was to take place on the 18th of August, 1969. By a general order of the State Government, respondent No. 1, the election of the Panchayat was postponed on account of rain. Block Development Officer, Mahua, respondent No. 4, who was the Election Officer, then fixed up the 13th of November, 1969, as the date for the Poll and the polling did take place on that date. Accord