The Order of the Court was as follows :

The petitioner has filed this writ petition to quash the order of the Election Tribunal (Principal District Judge, Chengleput) in the Election Petition No. 226/96 wherein the petitioner's election as the President of Ramacherri village Panchayat had been set aside.

2. The petitioner as well as the second respondent contested for the post of the President of the Village Panchayat of Ramancherri Village, Tiruvellore Taluk, Chengleput District in the election held on 9-10-96. The counting of votes was done on 14-10-96. The petitioner was declared elected by a margin of 4 votes. The second respondent herein filed an election petition 226 of 1996 on the file of the Principal District Judge, Chengleput challenging the said election, alleging that the votes were tampered and counting was done erroneously and the fifth respondent who is the member of the Legislative Assembly ordered recounting. In the recounting the result of the election was declared in favour of the petitioner, even though earlier the second respondent was declared elected and the results were published. Before the Election Tribunal both the contesting parties filed a mem