2023 Supreme(MP) 137

IN THE HIGH COURT OF MADHYA PRADESH
Dinesh Kumar Paliwal, J.
Yadvendra Singh “Jaggu Bhaiya” v. Shri Rakesh Giri & Another
Election Petition No. 12 of 2019 (Jabalpur);
Decided on 14.3.2023

Headnote:

(1) Representation of the People Act, 1951 -- S. 123 (1) (A) (b)

-- corrupt practice -- allegation that 150 daily wage employees of Municipal Council were engaged for canvassing in favour of respondent No. 1 as his wife was President of Municipal Council -- held -- petitioner admitted that he complained only against two employees -- has not given details of all 150 employees -- he is hearsay witness as his source of information is Raviraj Singh Gautam -- petitioner had not seen any daily wage employee of Municipal Council canvassing -- evidence of Raviraj Singh Gautam does not inspire confidence as he is not Raviraj Singh Gautam -- his name and address in Aadhaar card are different -- no reliance can be placed on uncorroborated hearsay evidence of petitioner -- material discrepancy in testimonies of petitioner and Raviraj Singh and alleged complaint as regards date of canvassing -- allegation not proved. [Paras 18 to 20

(2) Representation of the People Act, 1951 -- S. 123 (1) (A) (b)

-- corrupt practice -- distribution of blankets, sarees and cash to voters -- petitioner not eye witness -- no reliance can be placed on his hearsay evidence -- evidence of alleged eye witness vague and general in nature -- he is worker of opposite party -- in absence of cogent and reliable evidence, no reliance can be placed on his evidence as he is interested witness -- as regards distribution of blankets and sarees by Gajendra Giri Goswami, petitioner has not produced any documentary or oral evidence to prove that Gajendra Giri Goswami was agent of returned candidate -- copy of written complaint made by alleged eye witness Rahul Mishra not filed though Rahul Mishra stated that he gave copy of complaint to petitioner -- Rahul Mishra unreliable witness as his evidence not corroborated by any other witness -- specifically pleaded in election petition that blankets and sarees were distributed to Rajesh Kumar Rai and incident was videographed by Kamal Singh, but aforesaid witnesses not produced in evidence -- also failed to produce any videography -- name of Gajendra Giri not mentioned in alleged complaint and it does not bear seal or signature of Returning Officer -- allegation not proved. [Paras 22 to 29

(3) Representation of the People Act, 1951 -- S. 123 (1) (A) (b)

-- corrupt practice -- distribution of Rs.2,000/- denomination note as bribe to voters -- evidence of receiver of money Firoz Khan and of his friend Dhanendra Singh does not inspire confidence -- Dhanendra Singh and petitioner from same community and resident of same mohalla -- village where distribution of money is stated to have taken place was not on Dhanendra Singh’s way -- no satisfactory clarification offered as to how he reached that village

-- Firoz Khan and Dhanendra Singh appear to be manufactured witnesses -- their testimony not corroborated by evidence of any other independent witness -- 10-15 persons stated to be present on spot but none named in petition and none produced as witnesses -- material discrepancy in testimony of Firoz Khan and Dhanendra Singh regarding persons to whom currency notes were distributed -- not the evidence of Dhanendra Singh that he too was offered money for casting vote in favour of Bhagwa Party -- Firoz Khan and Dhanendra Singh have not disclosed name of any other person to whom currency notes were distributed -- their bald and general statement that three persons gave currency note of Rs. 2,000/- to Firoz Khan bereft of specific details carries no credibility -- their testimonies suffer from improbabilities, infirmities and anomalies which make them unbelievable and unreliable. [Paras 31 to 34

(4) Representation of the People Act, 1951 -- S. 123 -- corrupt practice -- standard of proof -- allegation with regard to corrupt practice is serious allegation -- standard of proof is akin to criminal charge -- allegations required to be proved beyond reasonable doubt. (1975) 4 SCC 769, AIR 1980 SC 1347, AIR 1981 SC 8, (1984) 4 SCC 649, (2009) 10 SCC 239 and (2017) 2 SCC 629 followed.

[Para 39

(5) Representation of the People Act, 1951 -- S. 123 -- corrupt practice -- proof -- allegations of corrupt practice must be clearly pleaded in petition with full particulars -- to be proved by cogent and relevant evidence -- no evidence admissible without pleading in election petition -- pleading of corrupt practice has to be proved beyond reasonable doubt -- burden of proof of fact is always on person who avers about such facts -- if initial burden is discharged then onus is shifted to opposite party to prove contrary -- unless initial burden is discharged, shifting of onus will not arise -- facts are to be proved in positive manner and not in negative manner. [Para 52

(6) Representation of the People Act, 1951 -- S. 56 -- Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961 -- R. 15 -- closing of Electoral Voting Machine before prescribed time -- no complaint by any voter -- no objections by polling agents present in polling booths -- evidence of three witnesses afterthought and manufactured -- affidavit of one voter prepared after one month or more, that too after declaration of result in which petitioner had lost and was preparing evidence for election petition -- it cannot be said that Poll End Time shown on display of control unit of voting machines is closure time of EVMs

-- objection that EVMs were closed before scheduled time and some voters were deprived from exercising their franchise not tenable. (1969) 2 SCC 492 distinguished. [Paras 58 to 66

(7) Representation of the People Act, 1951 -- S. 100 (1) (d) (iv) -- Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961 -- Rr. 49S and 56C (2) -- EVMs changed at time of counting -- no documentary evidence produced to show that before counting, 3 EVMs were changed by Collector or that any complaint was made by petitioner in this regard -- objections raised by Poll Counting Agent of petitioner were duly decided -- petitioner’s document is false and fabricated and actual number of control unit has been manipulated in it -- petitioner not successful in proving that EVMs were changed at time of counting which materially affected election. [Paras 68 to 70

(8) Practice -- no proof can be seen without pleading. [Para 76

(9) Representation of the People Act, 1951 -- S. 100 (1) (d) (4)

-- non-disclosure of criminal cases against candidate -- non-compliance of direction given in circular dated 10.10.2018 -- in nomination form, respondent No. 1 declared criminal cases pending against him -- details of criminal cases emailed to his political party -- information of criminal cases pending against him published in newspaper -- evidence of respondent No. 1 corroborated by editor of newspaper -- no notice of format 3-C given to respondent No. 1 by Returning Officer -- except petitioner, no witness deposed that said newspaper is not widely circulated -- evidence of petitioner not corroborated by any other witness -- initial burden to prove allegations was upon petitioner but he has not discharged burden by adducing cogent, legal and reliable evidence -- he has made no pleading about publication of criminal cases in less widely circulated newspaper -- also not proved by petitioner that due to publication of criminal cases in less circulated newspaper, election was materially affected. (2012) 3 SCC 314 followed. (2003) 8 SCC 673, (2002) 5 SCC 294, (2021) 10 SCC 241 and (2019) 3 SCC 224 referred to. [Paras 79 to 84

¼1½ yksd izfrfuf/kRo vf/kfu;e] 1951 &&/kkjk 123 ¼1½ ¼d½¼[k½ && Hkz"V vkpj.k && vfHkdFku fd uxjikfydk ifj"kn~ ds 150 nSfud osruHkksxh deZpkjh izR;FkhZ Ø-1 ds i{k esa izpkj ds fy, yxk, x, D;ksafd mldh iRuh uxjikfydk ifj"kn~ dh v/;{k Fkh && vfHkfu/kkZfjr && ;kph us Lohdkj fd;k fd mlus ek= nks deZpkfj;ksa ds fo#) f'kdk;r dh && mlus lHkh 150 deZpkfj;ksa dk fooj.k ugha fn;k && og vuqJqr lk{kh gS D;ksafd mldh tkudkjh dk lzksr jfojkt flag xkSre gS && ;kph us fdlh uxjikfydk ifj"kn~ ds fdlh nSfud osruHkksxh deZpkjh dks izpkj djrs ugha ns[kk Fkk && jfojkt flag xkSre dk lk{; fo'oklksRiknd ugha D;ksafd og jfojkt flag xkSre gh ugha && vk/kkj dkMZ esa mldk uke vkSj irk fHkUu && ;kph ds vlaiq"V vuqJqr lk{; dk voyac ugha fy;k tk ldrk && izpkj ds fnukad ds fo"k; esa ;kph vkSj jfojkt flag ds ifjlk{; rFkk vfHkdfFkr f'kdk;r esa rkfRod folaxfr && vfHkdFku lkfcr ughaA ¼iSjk 18 ls 20

¼2½ yksd izfrfuf/kRo vf/kfu;e] 1951 &&/kkjk 123 ¼1½ ¼d½¼[k½ && Hkz"V vkpj.k && ernkrkvksa dks dacyksa] lkfM+;ksa rFkk udnh dk forj.k && ;kph izR;{kn'khZ lk{kh ugha && mlds vuqJqr lk{; dk voyac ugha fy;k tk ldrk && vfHkdfFkr izR;{kn'khZ lk{kh dk lk{; vLi"V vkSj lkoZykSfdd izÑfr dk && og fojks/kh ny dk dk;ZdrkZ gS && rdZiw.kZ vkSj fo'oluh; lk{; ds vHkko esa] mlds lk{; dk voyac ugha fy;k tk ldrk D;ksafd og fgrc) lk{kh gS && xtsUnz fxfj xksLokeh }kjk dacyksa vkSj lkfM+;ksa ds forj.k ds laca/k esa] ;kph esa ;g lkfcr djus ds fy, dksbZ nLrkosth ;k ekSf[kd lk{; is'k ugha fd;k fd xtsanz fxfj xksLokeh fuokZfpr vH;FkhZ dk vfHkdrkZ Fkk && vfHkdfFkr izR;{kn'khZ lk{kh jkgqy feJk }kjk dh xbZ fyf[kr f'kdk;r dh izfr Qkby ugha] tcfd jkgqy feJk us dgk fd mlus ;kph dks f'kdk;r dh izfr nh && jkgqy feJk vuoyacuh; lk{kh D;ksafd mldk lk{; fdlh vU; lk{kh }kjk laiq"V ugha && fuokZpu ;kfpdk esa fofufnZ"V vfHkopu ds dacy vkSj lkfM+;k¡ jkts'k dqekj jk; dks forfjr dh xbZ Fkha rFkk dey flag }kjk ?kVuk dh ohfM;ksxzkQh dh xbZ Fkh] ijarq iwoksZDr lkf{k;ksa dks lk{; esa is'k ugha fd;k x;k && ohfM;ksxzkQh lkfcr djus esa Hkh vlQy jgk && vfHkdfFkr f'kdk;r esa xtsUnz fxfj dk uke mfYyf[kr ugha rFkk ml ij fuokZpu vf/kdkjh dh eqnzk ;k gLrk{kj ugha && vfHkdFku lkfcr ughaA ¼iSjk 22 ls 29

¼2½ yksd izfrfuf/kRo vf/kfu;e] 1951 &&/kkjk 123 ¼1½ ¼d½¼[k½ && Hkz"V vkpj.k && ernkrkvksa dks fj'or ds :i esa #- 2]000@& vafdr ewY; ds uksV dk forj.k &&/ku izkIr djus okys fQjkst [kku dk vkSj mlds fe=/kusanz flag dk lk{; fo'oklksRiknd ugha &&/kusanz flag vkSj ;kph ,d&gh leqnk; ds rFkk ,d&gh eksgYys ds fuoklh && ftl xzke esa/ku dk forj.k fd;k tkuk dfFkr gS og/kusanz flag ds ekxZ esa ugha && bl ckjs esa dksbZ lek/kkuizn Li"Vhdj.k ugha fd og ml xzke esa dSls igq¡pk && fQjkst [kku vkSj/kusanz flag xढ+s gq, lk{kh izrhr gksrs gSa && mudk ifjlk{; vU; fdlh Lora= lk{kh ds lk{; ls laiq"V ugha && LFky ij 10&15 O;fDr mifLFkr gksuk dfFkr ijarq ;kfpdk esa fdlh dk uke ugha vkSj dksbZ lk{kh ds :i esa is'k ugha && ftu O;fDr;ksa dks djsUlh uksV forfjr fd, x, muds fo"k; esa fQjkst [kku vkSj/kusanz flag ds ifjlk{; esa rkfRod folaxfr &&/kusanz flag dk ;g lk{; ugha fd Hkxok ny ds i{k esa ernku djus ds fy, mls Hkh/ku fn;k x;k Fkk && fQjkst [kku vkSj/kusanz flag us ,sls vU; fdlh O;fDr dk uke izdV ugha fd;k ftls djsUlh uksV forfjr fd;k x;k && fofufnZ"V C;kSjksa ls fjDr mudk ;g dksjk vkSj lkoZykSfdd dFku fo'oluh; ugha fd rhu O;fDr;ksa us fQjkst [kku dks #- 2]000@&* dk djsUlh uksV fn;k && muds ifjlk{; vlaHkkO;rkvksa] 'kSfFkY;ksa vkSj folaxfr;ksa ls xzLr] tks mUgsa vfo'oluh; vkSj vuoyacuh; cukrs gSaA ¼iSjk 31 ls 34

¼4½ yksd izfrfuf/kRo vf/kfu;e] 1951 &&/kkjk 123 && Hkz"V vkpj.k && lcwr dk ekud && Hkz"V vkpj.k dk vfHkdFku xaHkhj vfHkdFku gksrk gS && lcwr dk ekud nkafMd vkjksi ds leku gksrk gS && vfHkdFku ;qfDr;qDr lansg ds ijs lkfcr djuk vko';dA ¼1975½4 ,l lh lh 769] , vkb vkj 1980 ,l lh 1347] , vkb vkj 1981 ,l lh 8] ¼1984½ 4 ,l lh lh 649] ¼2009½10 ,l lh lh 239 rFkk ¼2017½2 ,l lh lh 629 vuqlfjrA ¼iSjk 39

¼5½ yksd izfrfuf/kRo vf/kfu;e] 1951 &&/kkjk 123 && Hkz"V vkpj.k && lcwr && ;kfpdk esa Hkz"V vkpj.k ds vfHkdFku dk vfHkokd~ iw.kZ fooj.kksa lfgr fd;k tkuk vko';d && rdZiw.kZ vkSj lqlaxr lk{; ls lkfcr fd;k tkuk gksrk gS && fuokZpu ;kfpdk esa vfHkopu ds fcuk dksbZ lk{; xzkâ; ugha && Hkz"V vkpj.k dk vfHkopu ;qfDr;qDr lansg ls ijs lkfcr fd;k tkuk gksrk gS && rF; ds lcwr dk Hkkj lnSo ml O;fDr ij gksrk gS tks mu rF;ksa dk izdFku djrk gS && vkjafHkd Hkkj dk fuoZgu dj fn;k tk, rc rRizfrdwy lkfcr djus dk Hkkj fojks/kh i{kdkj ij varfjr gksrk gS && tc rd vkjafHkd Hkkj dk fuoZgu ugha fd;k tk,] Hkkj dk varjf.k mn~Hkwr ugha gksxk && rF; ldkjkRed jhfr ls lkfcr fd;k tkuk gksrs gSa] udkjkRed jhfr ls ughaA ¼iSjk 52

¼6½ yksd izfrfuf/kRo vf/kfu;e] 1951 &&/kkjk 56 && fuokZpuksa dk lapkyu fu;e] 1961 && fu-15 && fuokZpu ernku e'khu fofgr le; ds iwoZ can djuk && fdlh Hkh ernkrk dh f'kdk;r ugha && ernku dsanzksa esa mifLFkr ernku vfHkdrkZvksa }kjk dksbZ vkifÙk ugha && rhuksa lkf{k;ksa dk lk{; mÙkjfpafrr vkSj xढ+k gqvk && ,d ernkrk dk 'kiFki= ,d ekl ;k vf/kd ds i'pkr~ rS;kj fd;k x;k] og Hkh ifj.kke dh ?kks"k.kk ds mijkar] ftlesa ;kph ijkftr gks x;k Fkk rFkk fuokZpu ;kfpdk ds fy, lk{; rS;kj dj jgk Fkk && ;g ugha dgk tk ldrk fd ernku e'khuksa dh fu;a=.k bdkbZ ds fMLIys ij nf'kZr ernku lekfIr le; bZoh,e dks can djus dk le; gS && ;g vkifÙk ekU; ugha fd bZoh,e fuèkkZfjr le; ds iwoZ can dj nh xbZ rFkk dqN ernkrk vius erkf/kdkj dk iz;ksx djus ls oafpr jg x,A ¼1969½2 ,l lh lh 492 izHksfnrA ¼iSjk 52

¼7½ yksd izfrfuf/kRo vf/kfu;e] 1951 &&/kkjk 100 ¼1½ ¼?k½ ¼iv½ && fuokZpuksa dk lapkyu fu;e] 1961 && fu- 49n rFkk 56x ¼2½ && erx.kuk ds le; bZoh, cnyh xbZ && ;g n'kkZus ds fy, dksbZ nLrkosth lk{; is'k ugha fd erx.kuk ds iwoZ dysDVj }kjk 3 bZoh,e cnyh xb± vFkok ;kph }kjk bl ckjs esa dksbZ f'kdk;r dh xbZ && ;kph ds x.kuk vfHkdrkZ }kjk dh xbZ vkifÙk;k¡ lE;d~:is.k fofuf'pr dh xb± && ;kph dk nLrkost feF;k vkSj xढ+k gqvk rFkk mlesa fu;a=.k bdkbZ ds okLrfod la[;kad esa Nylk/ku fd;k x;k && ;kph lkfcr djus esa lQy ugha fd erx.kuk ds le; bZoh,e cnyh xb± Fkha ftlls fuokZpu rkfRod :i ls izHkkfor gqvkA ¼iSjk 68 ls 70

¼8½ izFkk && vfHkopu ds fcuk fdlh lcwr ij fopkj ugha fd;k tk ldrkA ¼iSjk 76

¼9½ yksd izfrfuf/kRo vf/kfu;e] 1951 &&/kkjk 100 ¼1½ ¼?k½ ¼4½ && vH;FkhZ ds fo#) nkafMd izdj.kksa dks izdV ugha djuk && ifji= fnukad 10-10-2018 esa fn, x, funs'k dk vuuqikyu && ukefunsZ'ku iz:i esa izR;FkhZ Ø-1 us vius fo#) yafcr izdj.kksa dh ?kks"k.kk dh && nkafMd izdj.kksa dk C;kSjk vius jktuhfrd ny dks bZesy fd;k && vius fo#) yafcr nkafMd izdj.kksa dh tkudkjh lekpkji= esa izdkf'kr dh && izR;FkhZ Ø-1 dk lk{; lekpkj i= ds laiknd }kjk laiq"V && fuokZpu vf/kdkjh }kjk izR;FkhZ Ø-1 dks iz:i 3&x dh dksbZ lwpuk ugha nh xbZ && ;kph ds flok; fdlh lk{; us vfHklk{; ugha fn;k fd mDr lekpkj i= dk O;kid izlkj ugha && ;kph dk lk{; vU; fdlh lk{kh }kjk laiq"V ugha && vfHkdFku lkfcr djus dk vkjafHkd Hkkj ;kph ij Fkk ijarq mlus rdZiw.kZ] oS/k vkSj fo'oluh; lk{; is'k dj Hkkj dk fuoZgu ugha fd;k && mlus de izlkj okys lekpkji= esa nkafMd izdj.kksa ds izdk'ku dk vfHkopu ugha fd;k && ;kph }kjk ;g Hkh lkfcr ugha fd;k x;k fd de izlkj okys lekpkji= esa nkafMd izdj.kksa ds izdk'ku ds dkj.k fuokZpu rkfRod :i ls izHkkfor gqvkA ¼2012½3 ,l lh lh 314 vuqlfjrA ¼2003½8 ,l lh lh 673] ¼2002½5 ,l lh lh 294] ¼2021½10 ,l lh lh 241 rFkk ¼2019½3 ,l lh lh 224 fufnZ"VA ¼iSjk 79 ls 84