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2003 Supreme(MP) 864

2003(2) JLJ 334
(SUPREME COURT)
R.C. Lahoti, Ashok Bhan and Arun Kumar, JJ.
Javed v. State of Haryana
W.P. No. 302 of 2001. Decided on 30.7.2003.

Advocates:
Soli J. Sorabjee, S.B. Sanyal, R.P. Bhatt, P.P. Rao, Rishi Malhotra,
Prern Malhotra, Altaf Hussain, Ahil Sharma, Anil Kamwal, etc. for the Appearing Party.

Headnote:(1) Panchayat Raj Evam Gram Swaraj Adhiniyam, 1993 (M.P.) -- Ss. 36(1) (m) and 36(2) and 53, Sch. IV, Cls. 24 and 25 -- Haryana Panchayati Raj Act, 1994 -- Ss. 175(1) (q), 177(1) and 177(2) -Constitution of India -- Art. 14 -- provisions under the Act -- do not offend Art. 14 of the Constitution.

        The core issue is the vires of the provisions of sections 175(1) (q) and 177(1) of the Haryana Panchayati Raj Act, 1994. [Para 2

        The grounds of challenge can be categorized into five: (i) that the provision is arbitrary and hence violative of Article 14 of the Constitution; (ii) that the disqualification does not serve the purpose sought to be achieved by the legislation; (ii) that the provision is discriminatory; (iv) that the provision adversely affects the liberty of leading personal life in all its freedom and having as many children as one chooses to have and hence is violative of Article 21 of the Constitution; and (v) that the provision interferes with freedom of religion and hence violates Article 25 of the Constitution. [Para 4

        Held: We are clearly of the opinion that the impugned provision is neither arbitrary nor unreasonable nor discriminatory. The disqualification contained in section 175(1) (q) of Haryana Act No. 11 of 1994 seeks to achieve a laudable purpose-socioeconomic welfare and health care of the masses and is consistent with the national population policy. It is not violative of Article 14 of the Constitution. 1955 (1) SCR 1045 and (1988) 2 SCC 433 relied on. [Para 18

        (2) Constitution of India -- Arts. 13 and 14 -- power of Court to declare a law void -- has to be exercised with reference to specific legislation which is impugned -- cannot be exercised on the basis of two laws enacted by two Legislatures.

        The power of the Court to declare a law void under Article 13 has to be exercised with reference to the specific legislation which is impugned. Two laws enacted by two different Governments and by two different Legislatures can be read neither in conjunction nor by comparison for the purpose of finding out if they are discriminatory. Article 14 does not authorize the striking down of a law of one State on the ground that in contrast with a law of another State on the same subject, its provisions are discriminatory.

       When the sources of authority for the two statutes are different, Article 14 can have no application. 1955 (2) SCR 225, (1913) 1 SCC 261, (1995) 1 SCC 519 and (1987) 4 SCC 238 relied on. [Para 13

        (3) Constitution of India -- Part. III -- right to contest an election -- is neither a fundamental right nor a common law right -- at the most it is constitutional or statutory right.

        Right to contest an election is neither a fundamental right nor a common law right. It is a right conferred by a statute. At the most, in view of part IX having been added in the Constitution a right to contest election for an office in Panchayat may be said to be a constitutional right, a right originating in Constitution and given shape‘ by statute. But even so it cannot be equated with a fundamental right. There is nothing wrong in the same statute which confers the right to contest an election also to provide for the necessary qualifications without which a person cannot offer his candidature for an elective office and also to provide for‘ disqualifications which would disable a person from contesting for, or holding, an elective statutory office. 1952 SCR 218, 1955 (1) SCR 608 and 1955 (1) SCR 1004 relied on. [Paras 20 to 22

        (4) Panchayat Raj Evam Gram Swaraj Adhiniyam, 1993 (M.P.) -- Ss. 36 (1) (m) and 36 (2) -- Haryana Panchayati Raj Act, 1994 -- Ss. 175(1) (q), 177(1) and 177(2) -- Constitution of India -- Art. 21 -disqualification to contest panchayat election or remain office-bearer on procreation of third child -- does not offend Art. 21 -- provisions in the Act are valid.

        It was forcefully urged that the fundamental right to life and personal liberty emanating from Article 21 of the Constitution should be allowed to stretch its span to its optimum so as to include in the compendious term of the Article all the varieties of rights which go to make up the personal liberty of man including the right to enjoy all the materialistic pleasures and to procreate as many children as one pleases. [Para 25

        Held: The menace of growing population was judicially noticed and constitutional validity of legislative means to check the population was upheld in Air India v. Nergesh Meerza (1981) 4 SCC 335. The Court found no fault with the rule which would terminate the services of Air Hostesses on the third pregnancy with two existing children, and held the rule both salutary and reasonable.

        To say the least it is futile to assume or urge that the Impugned legislation violates right to life and liberty guaranteed under Article 21 in any of the meanings howsoever expanded the meanings may be. (1978) 1 SCC 248 and (1980) 4 SCC 1 distinguished. (1981) 4 SCC 335 relied on. [Paras 37 & 38

        (5) Panchayat Raj Evam Gram Swaraj Adhiniyam, 1993 (M.P.) -- Ss. 36(1) (m) and 36(2) -- Haryana Panchayati Raj Act, 1994 -- Ss. 175(1) (q), 177 (1) and 177 (2) -- Constitution of India -- Art. 25--provisions of the Act -- are not violative of fundamental right of religion enshrined under Art. 25.

        It was then submitted that the personal law of muslims permits performance of marriages with 4 women, obviously for the purpose of procreating children and any restriction thereon would be violative of right to freedom of religion enshrined in Article 25 of the Constitution.

        Held: A bare reading of this Article deprives the submission of all its force, vigour and charm, the freedom is subject to public order, morality and health. So the Article itself permits a legislation in the interest of social welfare and reform which are obviously part and parcel of public order, national morality and the collective health of the nation‘s pe9ple. [Para 39

        (6) Mohammedan Law -- personel law nowhere mandates or dictates as a duty the performance of four marriages. [Para 40

        (7) Constitution of India -- Arts. 25 -- religion -- term as employed under -- protection is with respect to religious practice which forms integral part of religion -- practice not an integral or essential part of religion -- not protected under. (1994) 6 SCC 360 relied on. 1957 ALJ 300 and AIR 1961 All. 334 approved. [Para 41

        (8) Constitution of India -- Art. 25 -- practice of polygamy -- is injurious to public morals -- it can be superseded by State or by enacting law recognition of such practice in religion does not make any difference.

        The practice of polygamy is injurious to ‘public morals‘, even though some religions may make it obligatory or desirable for its followers. The Court held that polygamy can be superseded by the State just as it can prohibit human sacrifice or the practice of Sati in the interest of public order. The Personal Law operates under the authority of the legislation and not under the religion and, therefore, the Personal Law can always be superseded or supplemented by legislation. (1995) 3 SCC 635 relied on. [Para 42

        (9) Criminal P.C., 1973 -- S. 125-- Mohammedan Law -- provisions for maintenance in two laws -- operate in different fields -- any conflict between two -- the statutory provision would prevail over personal law. 1985 JLJ 489 (SC) relied on. [Para 43

        (10) Constitution of India -- Art. 25 -- sacrifice of cow by muslims on religious day n is not mandatory but optional -- ban on such sacrifice is valid and does not offend this Article. 1959 SCR 629 relied on. [Para 44

        (11) Constitution of India -- Art. 25 -- religious faith. and belief are protected-d`religious practice running counter to public order, morality or health -- it is not saved.

        A sharp distinction must be drawn between religious faith and belief and religious practices. What the State protects is religious faith and belief. If religious practices run counter to public order, morality or health or a policy of social welfare upon which the State has embarked, then the religious practices must give way before the good of the people of the State as a whole. AIR 1952 Born. 84 approved. [Para 45

        (12) Constitution of India -- Arts. 15 (1), 25 (1) and 26 (b) -contracting of plural marriage by Muslim -- is neither a religious practice nor a religious belief -- provisions not attracted.

        A religious practice ordinarily connotes a mandate which a faithful must carry out. What is permissive under the scripture cannot be equated with a mandate which may amount to a religious practice. Therefore, there is nothing in the extract of the Quaranic text (cited before the Court) that contracting plural marriages is a matter of religious practice amongst Muslims. A bigamous marriage amongst Muslim is neither a religious practice nor a religious belief and certainly not a religious injunction or mandate. The question of attracting Article 15(1), 25 (1) or 26(b) to protect a bigamous marriage and in the name of religion does not arise. (1981) 22 GLR 289 approved. [Para 51

        (13) Panchayat Raj Evam Gram Swaraj Adhiniyam, 1993 (M.P.) -- Ss. 36(1) (m) and 36(2) -- Haryana Panchayati Raj Act, 1994 -- Ss. 175(1) (q), 177(1) and 177(2) -- disqualification on having three children -- is attracted no sooner than third child is born -- it makes no difference if one is given in adoption -- provision is applicable to husband and wife both -- wife alone is not deprived on giving birth to third child. [Paras 57 & 58

        ¼1½ iapk;r jkt ,oa xzke Lojkt vf/kfu;e] 1993¼e-ç-½&/kkjk 36¼1½ ¼M-½] 36¼2½ rFkk 53] vuqlwph pkj] [kaM&24 rFkk 25&gfjk.kk iapk;rh jkt vf/kfu;e] 1994&/kkjk 175¼1½ ¼Fk½] 177¼1½ rFkk 177¼2½&Hkkjr dk lafo/kku&vuq-14&vf/kfu;e ds v/khu mica/kksa ls&lafo/kku ds vuq- 14 dk mYya?ku ugha gksrkA

        fook|d dk eeZ gfj;k.kk iapk;rh jkt vf/kfu;e] 1994 dh /kkjk 175¼1½ ¼Fk½ rFkk 177¼1½ ds mica/kksa ds ‘kDR;k/khu gksus ds ckjs esa gSaA ¿iSjk 2

        vk{ksi ds vk/kkj ik¡p oxksZ esa ck¡Vs tk ldrs gSa% ¼1½ ;g fd mica/k euekuk gS vr% muls lafo/kku ds vuqPNsn 14 dk mYya?ku gksrk gS(¼2½ ;g fd fo/kku }kjk ftl mn~ns‘; dh iwfrZ bZfIlr gS] bl fujgZrk ls og ugha gksrh(¼3½ ;g fd mica/k foHksndkjh gS(¼4½ ;g fd mica/k ls laiw.kZ Lora=rk ls O;fDrxr thou O;rhr djus vkSj O;fDr ftruh larkus ilan djs mruh larkuksa dks tUe nsus dk Lokra=; çfrdwyr% çHkkfor gksrk gS vr% mlls lafo/kku ds vuqPNsn 21 dk mYya?ku gksrk gS( rFkk ¼5½ ;g fd ;g mica/k /keZ ds Lokra=; esa gLr{ksi djrk gS vr% blls lafo/kku ds vuqPNsn 25 dk mYy?kau gksrk gSA ¿iSjk 4

        vfHkfu/kkZfjr % gekjh Li"V jk; gS fd vkf{kIr mica/k u euekuk gS] u v;qfDr;qDr vkSj u foHksndkjh ghA gfj;k.kk vf/kfu;e Ø-11 lu~ 1994 dh /kkjk 175¼1½ ¼Fk½ esa varfoZ"V fujgZrk ls ,d ç‘kaluh; ç;kstu&lkekftd&vkfFkZd dY;k.k vkSj turk dk LokLF; dY;k.k&dh iwfrZ bZfIlr gS rFkk og jk"Vªh; tula[;k uhfr ls laxr gSA mlls lafo/kku ds vuqPNsn 14 dk mYya?ku ugha gksrkA 1955¼1½ ,l lh vkj 1045 rFkk ¼1988½ 2 ,l lh lh 433 voyafcrA ¿iSjk 18

        ¼2½ Hkkjr dk lafo/kku&vuq-13 rFkk 14&fof/k ‘kwU; ?kksf"kr djus dh U;k;ky; dh ‘kfDr&tks fofufnZ"V fo/kku vkf{kIr gks mlds funsZ‘k esa ç;qDr dh tkuk gksrh gS&nks fo/kku eaMyksa }kjk vf/kfu;fer nks fof/k;ksa ds vk/kkj ij ç;qDr ugha dh tk ldrhA

       vuqPNsn 13 ds v/khu fof/k ‘kwU; ?kksf"kr djus dh U;k;ky; dh ‘kfDr ml fofufnZ"V fo/kku ds funsZZ‘k esa ç;qDr dh tkuk gksrh gS tks vkf{kIr gksA nks fHkUu ljdkjksa rFkk nks fHkUu fo/kku&eaMyksa }kjk vf/kfu;fer nks fof/k;ksa dk ;g fu"d"kZ fudkyus ds ç;kstukFkZ fd og foHksndkjh gSa ;k ugha] u la;qDrr% vkSj u rqyukRed :i ls gh ikB fd;k tk ldrk gSA vuqPNsn 14 esa ,d jkT; dh fof/k bl vk/kkj ij vfHk[kafMr djuk çkf/kÑr ugha gSa fd mlh fo"k; ij ,d vU; jkT; dh fof/k dh rqyuk esa mlds mica/k foHksndkjh gSaA tc nksuksa dkuwuksa ds çkf/kdkj ds L=ksr fHkUu gksa rc vuqPNsn 14 ykxw ugha gks ldrkA 1955¼2½ ,l lh vkj 225] ¼1973½ 1 ,l lh lh 261] ¼1955½ 1 ,l lh lh 519 rFkk ¼1987½ 4 ,l lh lh 238 voyafcrA ¿iSjk 13

       ¼3½ Hkkjr dk lafo/kku&Hkkx&3&fuokZpu yM+us dk vf/kdkj&u ewy vf/kdkj gS] u fu.kZ;t fof/k esa çnÙk vf/kdkj gh gS&og vf/kd ls vf/kd lkafo/kkfud vFkok dkuwuh vf/kdkj gSA

       fuokZpu yM+us dk vf/kdkj u ewy vf/kdkj gS] u fu.kZ;t fof/k }kjk çnÙk vf/kdkj gSA og dkuwu }kjk çnÙk vf/kdkj gSA lafo/kku esa Hkkx 9 tksM+s tkus dh n`f"V ls] iapk;r esa in ds fy, fuokZpu yM+us dk vf/kdkj vf/kd&ls&vf/kd lkafo/kkfud vf/kdkj dgk tk ldrk gS&,slk vf/kdkj ftldk mn~xe lafo/kku esa gksrk gS rFkk dkuwu }kjk mls vkdkj fn;k tkrk gSA ijarq rc Hkh mls Hkwy vf/kdkj ls lehÑr ugha fd;k tk ldrkA ftl dkuwu esa fuokZpu yM+us dk vf/kdkj çnÙk gks mlh esa og vko‘;d vgZrk,¡ Hkh micaf/kr gksuk ftuds fcuk O;fDr fuokZpu in ds fy, viuh vH;fFkZrk çLrqr ugha dj ldrk rFkk og fujgZrk,¡ Hkh micaf/kr gksuk ftuls O;fDr dkuwuh fuokZpu in ds fy, fuokZpu yM+us vFkok mls /kkj.k djus esa vleFkZ gks tk,xk] xyr ugha gSA 1952 ,l lh vkj 218] 1995¼1½ ,l lh vkj 608 rFkk 1955¼1½ ,l lh vkj 1004 voyafcrA ¿iSjk 20 ls 22

       ¼4½ iapk;r jkt ,oa xzke Lojkt vf/kfu;e] 1993 ¼e-ç-½&/kkjk 36¼1½ ¼M½ rFkk 36¼2½&gfjk.kk iapk;rh jkt vf/kfu;e] 1994&/kkjk 175¼1½ ¼?k½] 177¼1½ rFkk 177¼2½&Hkkjr dk lafo/kku&vuq-21&r`rh; larku ds çtuu ij iapk;r fuokZpu yM+us vFkok inkf/kdkjh cus jgus dh fujgZrk&vuq-21 dk mYya?ku ugha gksrk&vf/kfu;e ds mica/k fof/kekU; gSA

       cyiwoZd vuqjks/k fd;k x;k fd lafo/kku ds vuqPNsn 21 ls mRiUu thou rFkk nSfgd Lora=rk ds ewy vf/kdkjh dh O;kfIr mlds vf/kdre rd foLr`r gksus nsuk pkfg, ftlls vuqPNsn ls lkjxfHkZr in esa vf/kdkjksa ds og lc çdkj lfEefyr gksa ftuls O;fDr dh nSfgd Lora=rk xfBr gksrh gS] ftlesa leLr HkSfrd lq[kksa dk miHkksx djus vkSj ftruh pkgs mruh larkusa çtfur djus dk vf/kdkj lfEefyr gSA ¿iSjk 25

       vfHkfu/kkZfjr % ,;j bafM;k fo- uxZs‘k fetkZ ¿ ¼1981½ 4 ,l lh lh 335À esa c<+rh gqbZ tula[;k dh U;kf;d vos{kk dh xbZ Fkh rFkk tula[;k lhfer djus ds fo/kk;h lk/kuksa dh lkafo/kkfud fof/kekU;rk ekU; dh xbZ FkhA U;k;ky; }kjk ml fu;e esa dksbZ =qfV ugha ikbZ xbZ ftlesa nks thfor larkuksa ds i‘pkr~ r`rh; xHkZ/kkj.k ij foeku&ifjpkfjdk dh lsoklekfIr micaf/kr Fkh] rFkk fu;e fgrdkjh vkSj ;qfDr;qDr] nksuksa vfHkfu/kkZfjr fd;k x;kA

       de&ls&de ;g /kkj.kk djuk vFkok vuqjks/k djuk O;FkZ gS fd vkf{kIr fo/kku ls vuqPNsn 21 ds v/khu xkjaVhÑr thou vkSj Lokra=;~ ds vf/kdkj dk fdlh Hkh vFkZ esa] og vFkZ fdruk gh foLr`r D;ksa ugha gks] mYya?ku gksrk gSA ¼1978½1 ,l lh lh 248 rFkk ¼1980½ 4 ,l lh lh 1 çHksfnrA ¼1981½ 4 ,l lh lh 335 voyafcrA ¿iSjk 37 ,oa 38

       ¼5½ iapk;r jkt ,oa xzke Lojkt vf/kfu;e] 1993 ¼e-ç-½&/kkjk 36¼1½ ¼M½ rFkk 36¼2½&gfjk.kk iapk;rh jkt vf/kfu;e] 1994&/kkjk 175¼1½ ¼Fk½] 177¼1½ rFkk 177¼2½&Hkkjr dk lafo/kku&vuq-25&vf/kfu;e ds mica/k&vuq-25 ds v/khu çfr"Bkfir /keZ ds ewy vf/kdkj dk vfrØe.k ugha gksrkA

       fQj fuosnu fd;k x;k fd eqfLyeksa dh Loh; fof/k esa pkj fL=;ksa ls fookg fd;k tkuk vuqKkr gS tks Li"Vr% larkuksa ds çtuu ds fy, gS rFkk ml ij fdlh Hkh fuc±/ku ls lafo/kku ds vuqPNsn 25 esa çfr"Bkfir /keZ dh Lora=rk ds vf/kdkj dk vfrØ.k gksxkA

       vfHkfu/kkZfjr % bl vuqPNsn ds ikB ek= ls ;g fuosnu vius cy] vkst rFkk vkd"kZ.k ls iw.kZr% oafpr gks tkrk gSA Lokra=~; yksd O;oLFkk] uSfrdrk rFkk LokLF; ds v/;/khu gSA vr% Lo;a vuqPNsn esa gh lkekftd dY;k.k vkSj lq/kkj ds fgr esa] tks lqLi"Vr% yksd O;oLFkk] jk"Vªh; uSfrdrk vkSj jk"Vª ds yksxksa ds lkewfgd LokLF; ds vfHkUu vax gS] fo/kku vuqKkr gSA ¿iSjk 39

       ¼6½ eqfLye fof/k&Loh fof/k esa dgha Hkh drZO; ds :i esa pkj fookg djus dh vkKk vFkok vf/kns‘k ugha gSA ¿iSjk 40

       ¼7½ Hkkjr dk lafo/kku&vuq-25&/keZ&vuqPNsn ds v/khu ;Fkkç;qDr vfHkO;fDr&laj{k.k ,sls /kkfeZd vkpj.k ds ckjs esa gSa tks /keZ dk vaxHkwr Hkkx gS&,slk vkpj.k tks /keZ dk vaxHkwr vFkok lkjHkwr Hkkx ugha gS&vuqPNsn ds v/khu lajf{kr ugha gSA ¼1994½6 ,l lh lh 360 voyafcrA 1957 , ,y ts 300 rFkk , vkb vkj 1961 byk- 334 vuqeksfnrA ¿iSjk 41

       ¼8½ Hkkjr dk lafo/kku&vuq-25&cgqiRuhRo dh çFkk&yksd uSfrdrk dks gkfudkjd gS&mls jkT; vFkok fof/k vf/kfu;fer dj vfrf"Br fd;k tk ldrk gS&/keZ esa ,slh çFkk dh ekU;rk ls QdZ ugha iM+rkA

       cgqiRuhRo dh çFkk ^yksd uSfrdrk* ds fy, gkfudkjd gS] Hkys gh dqN /keks± esa mls vius erkoyafc;ksa ds fy, ck/;dj vFkok okaNuh; cuk;k x;k gksA U;k;ky; }kjk vfHkfu/kkZfjr fd;k x;k fd jkT; }kjk cgqiRuhRo Bhd mlh vfrf"Br fd;k tk ldrk gS tSls yksd O;oLFkk ds fgr esa mlds }kjk ekuo cfy vFkok lrh dh çFkk çfrf"k) dh tk ldrh gSA Loh; fof/k] fo/kku ds çkf/kdkj ds v/khu çofrZr gksrh gS] /keZ ds ugha( vr%] Loh; fof/k dHkh Hkh fo/kku }kjk vfrf"Br dh tk ldrh gS vFkok mldh vuqiwfrZ dh tk ldrh gSA ¼1995½ 3 ,l lh lh 635 voyafcrA ¿iSjk 42

       ¼9½ naM çfØ;k lafgrk] 1973&/kkjk 125&eqfLye fof/k&nks fof/k;ksa esa Hkj.kiks"k.k ds fy, mica/k&fHkUu {ks=ksa esa çofrZr gksrs gSa&nksuksa esa fojks/k&dkuwuh mica/k Loh; fof/k ij vfHkHkkoh gksxkA 1985 ts ,y ts 489 ¼mPpre U;k-½ voyafcrA ¿iSjk 43

       ¼10½ Hkkjr dk lafo/kku&vuq-25&/kkfeZd fnol ij eqfLyeksa }kjk xk; dh cfy&vkKkid ugha vfirq oSdfYid gS&,slh cfy ij ikcanh fof/kekU; gS rFkk mlls bl vuqPNsn dk mYya?ku ugha gksrkA 1959 ,l lh vkj 629 voyafcrA ¿iSjk 44

       ¼11½ Hkkjr dk lafo/kku&vuq-25&/kkfeZd vkLFkk rFkk fo‘okl lqjf{kr gSa&yksd O;oLFkk] uSfrdrk vFkok LokLF; ds çfrdwy /kkfeZd vkpj.k&Oko`Ùk ugha gSA

       /kkfeZd vkLFkk vkSj fo‘okl rFkk /kkfeZd vkpj.k esa lqLi"V foHksn fd;k tkuk vko‘;d gSA jkT; ftldh lqj{kk djrk gS og /kkfeZd vkLFkk vkSj fo‘okl gSA ;fn /kkfeZd vkpj.k yksd O;oLFkk] uSfrdrk vFkok LokLF; lkekftd dY;k.k dh ,slh uhfr ds foijhr gksa tks jkT; }kjk ykxw dh xbZ gks] rc /kkfeZd vkpj.k dks laiw.kZ jkT; ds yksxksa ds fgr ds le{k >qduk gksxkA , vkb vkj 1952 cacbZ 84 vuqeksfnrA ¿iSjk 45

       ¼12½ Hkkjr dk lafo/kku&vuq-15¼1½] 25¼1½ rFkk 26¼[k½&eqfLye }kjk cgqla[;d fookg&u /kkfeZd vkpj.k gS] u /kkfeZd fo‘okl&mica/k vkÑ"V ughaA

       /kkfeZd vkpj.k dk vFkZ lkekU;r% ,slh vkKk gksrk gS ftldk ikyu fo‘oklh O;fDr dks vo‘; djuk pkfg,A /keZxzaFk esa tks vuqKs; gS mls ,slh vkKk ls lehÑr ugha fd;k tk ldrk tks /kkfeZd vkpj.k dh dksfV esa vk ldrh gSA vr%] ¼U;k;ky; ds lewg mn~/k`r½ dqjku ds ewy ikB ds mn~/kj.k esa ,slk dqN ugha gS fd cgqla[;d fookg djuk eqfLyeksa esa /kkfeZd vkpj.k gSA eqfLyeksa esa f}fookg u /kkfeZd vkpj.k gS] u /kkfeZd fo‘okl] rFkk /kkfeZd O;kns‘k vFkok vkKk rks fuf‘pr :i ls ugha gSA f}fookg dh lqj{kk ds fy, rFkk og Hkh /keZ ds uke ij vuqPNsn 15¼1½] 25¼1½ vFkok 26¼[k½ vkÑ"V djus dk ç‘u gh mn~Hkwr ugha gksrkA ¼1981½ 22 th ,y vkj 289 vuqeksfnrA ¿iSjk 51

       ¼13½ iapk;r jkt ,oa xzke Lojkt vf/kfu;e] 1993 ¼e-ç-½&/kkjk 36¼1½ ¼M½ rFkk 36¼2½&gfjk.kk iapk;rh jkt vf/kfu;e] 1994&/kkjk 175¼1½ ¼Fk½] 177¼1½ rFkk 177¼2½&rhu larkusa gksus ij fujgZrk&r`rh; larku ds tUe ysrs gh vkÑ"V gksrh gSa&,d nÙkd esa ns fn, tkus ls QdZ ugha iM+rk&mica/k ifr&iRuh] nksuksa dks ykxw gksrk gS&r`rh; larku dks tUe nsus ij dsoy iRuh oafpr ugha gksrhA ¿iSjk 57 ,oa 58

JUDGMENT

Lahoti, J. -- 1. Leave granted in all the Special Leave Petitions.

2. In this batch of writ petitions and appeals the core issue is the vires of the provisions of sections 175(1) (q) and 177(1) of the Haryana Panchayati Raj Act, 1994 (Act No. 11 of 1994) (hereinafter referred to as the Act, for short). The relevant provisions are extracted and reproduced hereunder :

"175. (1) No person shall be a Sarpanch or a Panch of a Gram Panchayat or a member of a Panchayat Samiti or Zila Parishad or continue as such who --

** ** **

(q) has more than two living children:

Provided that a person having more than two children on or upto the expiry of one year of the commencement of this Act, shall not be deemed to be disqualified;

"177(1) If any member of a Gram Panchayat, Panchayat Samiti or Zila Parishad - (a) who is elected, as such, was subject to any• of the disqualifications mentioned in section 175 at time of his election;

(b) during the term for which he has been elected, incurs any of the disqualifications mentioned in section 175,

shall be disqualified from continuing to be a member and his office shall become vacant.

(2) In every case, the question whether a vacancy has arisen shall be• decided by the Director. The Director may give its decision either on an application made to it by any person, or on its own motion. Until the Director decides that the vacancy has arisen, the members shall not be disqualified under sub-section (1) from continuing to be a member Any person aggrieved by the decision of the Director may, within a period of fifteen days from the date of such decision, appeal to the Government and the orders passed by Government in such appeal shall be final:

Provided that no order shall be passed under this sub-section by the Director against any member without giving him a reasonable opportunity of being heard."

Act No. 11 of 1994 was enacted with various objectives based on past experience and in view of the shortcomings noticed in the implementation of preceding laws and also to bring the legislation in conformity with Part IX of the Constitution of India relating to 'The Panchayats' added by the Seventy-third Amendment. One of the objectives set out in the Statement of Objects and Reasons is to disqualify persons for election of Panchayats at each level, having more than 2 children after one year of the date of commencement of this Act, to popularize Family Welfare/Family Planning Programme (Vide Clause (m) of para 4 of SOR).

3. Placed in plain words the provision disqualifies a person having more than two living children from holding the specified offices in Panchayats. The enforcement of disqualification is postponed for a period of one year from the date of the commencement of the Act. A person having more than two children upto the expiry of one year of the commencement of the Act is not disqualified. This postponement for one year takes care of any conception on or around the commencement of the Act, the normal period of gestation being nine months. If a woman has conceived at the commencement of the Act then anyone of such couples would not be disqualified. Though not disqualified on the date of election if any person holding any of the said offices incurs a disqualification by giving birth to a child one year after the commencement of the Act he becomes subject to disqualification and is disabled from continuing to hold the office. The disability is incurred' by the birth of a child which results in increasing the number of living children, including the additional child born one year after the commencement of the Act, to a figure more than two. If the factum is disputed the Director is entrusted with the duty of holding an enquiry and declaring the office vacant. The decision of the Director is subject to appeal, to the Government. The Director has to afford a reasonable opportunity of being heard to the holder of office sought to be disqualified: These safeguards satisfy the requirements o











































































































































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