JUDGMENT :

1. The present case is arising out of an election dispute with regard to an election for the post of Pradhan of Gram Panchayat Jogiyabeer, Kshetra Panchayat Azmatgarh, Tehsil Sagri, District Azamgarh conducted on 19.04.2021.

2. It is not in dispute that petitioner before this Court is the returned candidate whereas Respondent-3 remained runner up in election and margin of victory was only one vote. Remaining private respondents have also participated in the election.

3. Respondent-3 (election-petitioner) has approached the Prescribed Authority under Section 12-C of U.P. Panchayat Raj Act, 1947 (hereinafter referred to as “Act, 1947) by way of filing an Election Petition No. 6727 of 2021 (Computerized Case No. T202115060706727) with prayer for an order for recounting and to declare election petitioner to be returned candidate. Paragraphs No. 3 and 4 of the election petition, being relevant, are reproduced as under :

^^3- ;g fd fnukad 19-04-2021 dks ernku lEiUu gqvk A ernku ds le; izfr;kph izFke i{k ds }kjk ekSds ij u jgus okys O;fDr;ksa ,oa ckgj jgus okys O;fDr;ksa ds Hkh oksV Mky fn;k x;kA pquko lEiUu djkus ds fy;s dqy rhu cwFk cuk;s x;s Fks] cwFk uaŒ1 ij 1 rk 4 okMZ es 313] cwFk uaŒ 2 ij 5 ls 8 okMZ esa 376 ,oa cwFk uaŒ3 ij 9 ls 13 okMZ esa 481 er iMs ;kuh dqy 1170 er iMs+A
4- ;g fd fnukad 02-05-2021 dks erx.kuk djk;h x;hA erx.kuk esa ge ;kph dks 255] izfr;kph izFke dks 256] izfr;kph uaΠ3 dks 11 er 9 dks 113 er] 4 dks 112 er] 5 dks 02] 6 dks 51] 7 dks 17] 8 dks 001] 9 dks 68] 10 dks 137] 11 dh 72 ,oa 12 dks 01 er izkIr fn[kk;k x;k gSA 71 er voS/k jgkA dqy 1167 er erx.kuk esa fn[kk;s x;sA 3 eri= xk;c dj fn;k x;k] tks er i= xk;c fd;s x;s Fks ge ;kph ds i{k esa Fks ;fn os xk;c ugh fd;s tkrs rks fuf'pr gh ge ;kph fuokZfpr gksrsA^^

(Emphasis supplied)

4. It is evident from above referred averments that the dispute is, whether total number of votes cast were 1167 or 1170?

5. Returned candidate has filed a reply to election petition wherein averments made in election petition including the averments referred above were denied and in Additional Statement it was specifically stated that no ballot paper was removed and entire counting was undertaken in a peaceful and fair manner.

6. Prescribed Authority on the basis of pleadings, framed following issues :

^^1- D;k izLrqr pquko ;kfpdk dh lquokbZ dk {ks=kf/kdkj bl U;k;ky; dks izkIr gS\
2- D;k izLrqr pquko ;kfpdk esa erx.kuk ds le{k ;kph ds i{k esa 255 er o foi{kh dks 256 eri= feys\s
3- D;k erx.kuk esa dqy erksa dh laΠ1170 FkhA tc fd erx.kuk ds le; pquko vf/kdkjh }kjk 1167 er i= dh x.kuk dh x;h rFkk rhu er i=ksa dh x.kuk ugha dh x;h A rks ;kfpdk esa bldk izHkko\
4- D;k ;kph o mlds erx.kuk ,ts.V }kjk f'kdk;r dh x;h ysfdu mudh ckrksa dks vulquk dj fn;k x;k\
5- D;k ihBklhu vf/kdkjh pquko vf/kdkjh }kjk ?kksf"kr ifj.kke esa vksoj jkbZfVax dj 1168 ds LFkku ij 1167 ir i= fn[kk;k x;k gS\
6- D;k ihBklhu vf/kdkjh }kjk rhu ir i=ksa dks oS/k ;k voS/k ?kksf"kr fd;k x;k gS\
7- D;k ;kph iqu% erx.kuk djkus dk vf/kdkjh gS\^^

7. Prescribed Authority on basis of evidence of parties and documents provided by the office of Election Officer decided relevant issue Nos. 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 and rejected the Election Petition by order dated 03.10.2022. Relevant part of the order is reproduced as under :

^^okn fcUnq laŒ 3] 4] 5] 6] 7 ,d nwljs ls lEcfU/kr gSA vr% budk fuLrkj.k ,d lkFk fd;k tkrk gSA xzke iz/kku in gsrq Mkys x;s eri=ksa dh laŒ 1167 gSA ftlesa fof/kekU; erksa dh dqy laŒ 1096 gSA izfr{ksfir ¼[kkfjt@jn~n½ erksa dh laŒ 71 gSA bl izdkj izfr;kph izFke i{k [kq'khZn vger 1 er ls fot;h ?kksf"kr gq;sA iz/kku in gsrq dqy 13 mEehnokj Fks ftuds izkIr oS/k erks dk ;ksx 1096 gksrk gSA ;kph o mlds ,ts.V }kjk erx.kuksa ds lEcU/k esa f'kdk;r ds ckcr dksbZ izek.k i= iLrqr ugha fd;k x;k blds foijhr mldk ;g dFku fd iqueZrx.kuk dh ckr vulquh dj nh x;h] tks fd fo'oluh; ugha gSA ihBklhu vf/kdkjh ¼pquko vf/kdkjh½ }kjk ?kksf"kr ifj.kke ds ckor vksojjkbfVax djus ds ckor dksbZ lk{; ugha izLrqr fd;k x;kA rhu erksa dks voS/k ;k oS/k ?kksf