The petitioner – a successful candidate in the election held under the Kerala Panchayat Raj Act, has come before this Court for the second time is an attempt to ensure premature termination of the Election Petition filed against her by the 1st respondent – an unsuccessful candidate. The present attempt is to contend that there is no proper verification of the Election Petition and therefore the petition is liable to be dismissed.

2. It will be advantageous, first of all, to refer to Sec.91 of the Kerala Panchayat Raj Act with emphasis on Clause 1 (C).

“91 Contents of petition.- (1) An election petition –

(a) x x x x x x x x

(b) x x x x x x x x

(c) shall be signed by the petitioner and verified in the manner laid down in the Code of Civil procedure. 1908 (Central Act 5 of 1908) for the verification of pleadings:

Provided that where the petitioner alleges any corrupt practice, the petition shall also be accompanied by an affidavit in the prescribed form in support of the allegation of such corrupt practice and the particulars thereof.

2. Any schedule or annexure to the petition shall also be signed by the petitioner and verified in the same manner as the petition.”

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