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2001 (1) JLJ 229
A.M. Sapre, J.
Hukumchand v. Dheer Ji and others
W.P. No. 1218 of 2000; Decided on 30.11.2000
(2) Panchayat Raj Adhiniyam, 1993 (M.P.) -- Ss. 95 and 122 (1) (iii) M.P. Panchayats (Election Petitions, Corrupt Practices and Disqualification for Membership) Rules, 1995 -- Rr. 23 and 25 -- Rules for election petition etc. framed exercising powers under S. 95 r/w S. 122 (1) and 122 (3) -- do not provide any appeal or revision -- decision pronounced under R. 23 has further been declared final under R. 25.
In exercise of Rule making power conferred under section 95 read with section 122(1) (iii) ibid, the State has framed specific rules only in relation to prosecution of election petition, which as quoted supra are known as M.P. Panchayats (Election Petitions. Corrupt Practices and Disqualification for Membership) Rules 1995. [Para 5
It is clearly manifest that while providing for a separate and exclusive Rules for the disposal of election petition, it does not provide therein any right of appeal or revision to an aggrieved against any adverse order. In other words, the Election Petition Rules nowhere provide for any appeal or revision like the one provided in Appeal and Revision Rules, 1995 (rules 3 and 5). On the other hand by providing rule 25, it has attached finality to the decision rendered by the specified officer. [Para 8
(3) Constitution of India -- Arts. 226 and 227 -- M.P. Panchayat Raj Adhiniyam, 1993 -- S. 122 -- no remedy of appeal or revision has been provided in the matter of election petition -- aggrieved has a right to file writ petition under Arts. 226/227, against final and interim order.
In order to find out whether any right of appeal or revision is given to those who have suffered any adverse order whether interlocutory or final while prosecuting election petition, one has only to see section 122 and the Rules framed thereunder namely, Election Petition Rules. Since neither section 122 nor the Election Petition Rules framed for prosecution of election petition provide for any statutory remedy of appeal/revision to an aggrieved against any order (whether interim or final), it has to be held that in the absence of any remedy, much less alternative statutory remedy available under the Act/Rules, an aggrieved has a right to file a petition under Articles 226 and 227 of the Constitution to challenge the legality and validity of any orders. [Para 11
(4) Panchayat Raj Adhiniyam, 1993 (M.P.) -- Ss. 76 and 77 -- appeal rules framed under -- provide appeal only in the matter of taxation. [Para 12
¼1½ iapk;r jkt vf/kfu;e] 1998 ¼e-iz-½ && /kkjk 92 rFkk 95 && e-iz- iapk;r ¼vihy rFkk iqujh{k.k½ fu;e] 1995 && fu- 3 rFkk 5 && /kkjk 91 lgifBr /kkjk 95 ds v/khu fojfpr fu;e && /kkjk 91 ds v/khu Qkby dh xbZ vihyksa rFkk iqujh{k.kksa dks gh ykxw gksrs gSaA ¿ iSjk 4
¼2½ iapk;r jkt vf/kfu;e] 1993 ¼e-iz-½ && /kkjk 95 rFkk 122¼1½¼rhu½ && e-iz- iapk;r ¼fuokZpu vthZ] Hkz"Vkpkj rFkk lnL;rk ds fy, fujgZrk½ fu;e] 1995 && fu- 23 rFkk 25 && /kkjk 95 lgifBr /kkjk 122¼1½ rFkk 122¼3½ ds v/khu ‘kfDr iz;qDr djrs gq, fuokZpu vthZ] vkfn ds fy, fojfpr fu;e && vihy vFkok iqujh{k.k micafkr ugha gS && fu- 23 ds v/khu lquk, x, fofu‘p; dks vkxs fu- 25 esa vafre ?kksf"kr fd;k x;k gSA
iwoksZDr /kkjk 95 lgifBr /kkjk 122¼1½ ¼rhu½ ds v/khu iznÙk fu;e cukus dh ‘kfDr iz;qDr djrs gq, jkT; }kjk dsoy fuokZpu vthZ ds vfHk;kstu ds laca/k esa fofufnZ"V fu;e fojfpr fd, x, gSa ftUgsa] Åij m)`r fd, x, vuqlkj e-iz- iapk;r ¼fuokZpu vthZ] Hkz"V vkpj.k rFkk lnL;rk ds fy, fujgZrk½ fu;e] 1993 ds :i esa tkuk tkrk gSA ¿ iSjk 5
;g Li"Vr% izdV gS fd fuokZpu vthZ ds fuiVkjs ds fy, i`Fkd rFkk vuU; fu;e micaf/kr djrs le; mlesa O;fFkr O;fDr dks fdlh izfrdwy vkns‘k ds fo:) vihy vFkok iqujh{k.k dk vf/kdkj micaf/kr ugha fd;k x;k gSA vU; ‘‘kCnksa esa] fuokZpu vthZ fu;eksa esa dgha Hkh] vihy rFkk iqujh{k.k fu;e] 1995 ¼fu;e 3 rFkk 5½ esa micaf/kr ds leku] vihy vFkok iqujh{k.k micaf/kr ugha gSA nwljh vksj] fu;e 25 micaf/kr dj fofufnZ"V vf/kdkjh }kjk fd, x, fofu‘p; dks vafrerk iznku dh xbZ gSA ¿ iSjk 8
¼3½ Hkkjr dk lafo/kku && vuq- 226 rFkk 227 && e-iz- iapk;r jkt vf/kfu;e] 1993 && /kkjk 122 && fuokZpu vthZ ds fo"k; esa vihy vFkok iqujh{k.k dk mipkj micaf/kr ugha gS && O;fFkr O;fDr dks vafre rFkk varfje vkns‘k ds fo:) vuq- 226@227 ds v/khu fjV ;kfpdk Qkby djus dk vf/kdkj gSA
;g irk yxkus ds fy, fd fuokZpu vthZ ds vfHk;kstu ds le; ftu O;fDr;ksa ds fo:) dksbZ izfrdwy vkns‘k] varorhZ vFkok vafre] ifjr fd;k x;k gS mUgsa vihy vFkok iqujh{k.k dk vf/kdkj fn;k x;k gS vFkok ugha] dsoy /kkjk 122 rFkk rn~/khu fojfpr fu;e] uker% fuokZpu vthZ fu;e] ns[ks tkuk gksaxsA D;ksafd O;fFkr O;fDr dks fdlh vkns‘k ¼varfje vFkok vafre½ ds fo:) vihy vFkok iqujh{k.k dk dkuwuh mipkj u /kkjk 122 esa] u fuokZpu vthZ ds vfHk;kstu ds fy, fojfpr fuokZpu vthZ fu;eksa esa gh micaf/kr gS] vfHkfu/kkZfjr fd;k tkuk gksxk fd vkuqdfYid dkuwuh mipkj rks nwj jgk] vf/kfu;e@fu;eksa ds v/khu miyC/k fdlh mipkj dh vfo|ekurk esa O;fFkr O;fDr dks fdlh Hkh vkns‘k dh oS/krk rFkk fof/kekU;rk vkf{kIr djus ds fy, lafo/kku ds vuqPNsn 226 rFkk 227 ds v/khu ;kfpdk Qkby djus dk vf/kdkj gSA ¿ iSjk 9
¼4½ iapk;r jkt vf/kfu;e] 1993 ¼e-iz-½ && /kkjk 76 rFkk 77 && ds v/khu fojfpr vihy fu;e && dsoy djk/kku ds fo"k; esa vihy micaf/kr gSA ¿ iSjk 12
1. In this petition and also in other connected petitions filed under Articles 226 and 227 of the Constitution of India, one of the preliminary issue raised by the respondents, or I may say, one of the issue that cropped up for consideration was whether petition under Articles 226 or land 227 can he entertained against an order, whether final or interim, passed under the provisions of M.P. Panchayat Raj Adhiniyam 1993 (hereinafter referred to as an Act) ? or whether this Court would decline to interfere in the petition on the ground of an alternative statutory remedy available to the petitioner under the Act by way of an appeal or Revision as the case may be. In other words, the question that falls for consideration as one of the preliminary issue is whether an alternative remedy of appeal/revision for challenging an adverse order is available to the petitioner under the Act and if so should this Court entertain the writ. Yet another issue that falls for consideration is, if the remedy of appeal/revision is available then, against which order namely, final or interim, passed by specified authority in an election petition under the Act/Rules, it is so available ? These are broadly the questions which were argued by the learned counsel for the parties in this petition and also in other petitions involving identical points.
2. This petition as also other connected petitions arise out of election petitions filed either by the petitioner or by the respondents under section 122 read with Rule 3 of M.P. Panchayat (Election Petitions, Corrupt Practices and Disqualification for Membership) Rules 1995, before the specified officer. In some cases, election petition has been dismissed on merits after trial. In some cases, though petition has been dismissed but on a preliminary objection taken by the non-applicant. In some cases, election petition is pending but some interlocutory orders have been passed on an application made either by election petitioner or by non-applicant. In effect, therefore, the challenge in these petitions is to two types of orders, one is final order disposing of election petition, whereas the other one is to interlocution order passed in pending election petition.
3. To decide the issue, following are the relevant provisions that need to be examined :-
"Sec. 91. Appeal and revision -- An appeal or revision against the orders or proceedings of a Panchayat and other authorities under this Act, shall lie to such authority and in such manner as may be prescribed.
ii. Sec. 95. Power to make rules –
(1) The State Government may make rules for carrying out the purposes of this Act.
(2) In particular and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing powers, such rules may provide for all or any of the matters which under any provision of this Act, are required to be prescribed or to be provided for by rules.
(3) All rules shall he subject to the condition of previous publication.
(4) All rules shall be laid on the table of Legislative Assembly.
(5) In making any rule, the State Government may direct that a breach thereof shall be punishable with line which may extend to two hundred fifty rupees and in the case of continuing breach with a further fine which may extend to five rupees for every day during which the breach continues after the first conviction."
iii. Sec. 122. Election petition – (1) An election under this Act shall be called in question only by a petition presented in the prescribed manner :-
(i) in case of Gram Panchayat to the Sub-Divisional Officer(Revenue);
(ii) in case of Janpad Panchayat to the Collector; and
(iii) in case of Zila Panchayat to the Divisional Commissioner and not otherwise.
(2) No such petition shall he admitted unless it is presented within thirty days from the date on which the election [xxx] in question was notified.
(3) Such petition shall be enquired into or disposed of according to such procedures as may be prescribed.
M.P. Panchayats (Appeal And Revision) Rules, 1995.
"(i) Rule 3 Appe
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