Ram Swaroop Masram Vs. the State of Madhya Pradesh - Court Judgment

Excerpt:

Judgment:

1 W.P. No. 3690 Of  2011 20.6.2013 Shri P.K. Mishra, learned counsel for the petitioner.

None for the respondent Nos. 1 to 22.

Shri   Vivek   Agrawal,   learned   Government   Advocate   for  respondent No. 23.

Challenge is to an order dated 29.12.2010, whereby, the  Sub   Divisional   Officer   and   Prescribed   Officer,   Gunnour  dismissed   the   election   petition   under   Section   122   of   M.P.  Panchayat   Raj   Avam   Gram   Swaraj   Adhiniyam   1993   on   the  ground of delay.

Election   for   Sarpanch   Gram   Panchayat   Khathwariya,  Block   Gunnour,   Tahsil   GunNo.  district   Panna   was   held   on  3.2.2010;   wherein,   respondent   No.  1   was   declared   elected.  Aggrieved   whereby,   petitioner   filed   an   election   petition   on  5.3.2010   before   the   Prescribed   Officer,   Gunnor,   Panna   under  Section 122 of 1993 Adhiniyam.  Wherein the objection raised by  respondent No. 1 being barred by time found favour resulting in  rejection of the election petition on the ground of limitation.   Section 122 of 1993 Adhiniyam stipulates: “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 or Gram Sabha to the  Sub­Divisional 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   be   admitted   unless   it   is  presented within thirty days from the date on which the  election in question was notified.       (emphasis supplied) 2 (3)     Such petition shall be inquired into or disposed of  according to such procedures as may be prescribed.”

The procedure for filing the election petition is prescribed  under   the   Madhya   Pradesh   Panchayats   (Election   Petitions,  Corrupt Practices and Disqualification for Membership) Rules,  1995 framed under Section 95 (1) read with sub­sections (1) and  (3) of Section 122 of 1993 Adhiniyam.

Rules 3 and 8 of the Rules 1995 respectively stipulates: “3.

Presentation   of   election   petition.­(1)   An  election   Petition   shall   be   presented   to   the   specified  Officer during the office  hours by the person making  the petition, or by a person authorised in writing in this  behalf by the person making the petition.

(2)   Every election petition shall be accompanied by as  many   copies   thereof   as   there   are   respondents  mentioned in the petition and every such copy shall be  attested by the petitioner under his own signature to b  a true copy of the petition.”

“8.

  Procedure   on   receiving   petition.­If   the  provisions of rule 3 or rule 4 or rule 7 have not been  complied with, the petition, shall be dismissed by the  specified officeRs.Provided   that   the   petition   shall   No.  be   dismissed  under   this   rule   without   giving   the   petitioner   an  opportunity of being heard.”

Thus,   clear   it   is   from   sub­section   (2)   of   Section   122   of  Adhiniyam   1993   read   with   Rule  3   of  the   Rules,   1995   that   the  3 election petition is to be filed within thirty days from  the date  on which the election in question was notified.

That, the elections of Sarpanch is held as per provisions  contained under Section 17 of Adhiniyam, 1993 and the Rules  viz.

  The   Madhya   Pradesh   Panchayat   Nirvachan   Niyam,   1995  framed under sub­section (1) of Section 95 read with Section 43  of the Madhya Pradesh Panchayat Raj Adhiniyam, 1993.

Rules 83 and 90 of the Nirvachan Niyam, 1995 provides  for: “83.

    Grant   of  certificate   of  election  to   the   returned  candidate.­ As soon as may be after a candidate has been  declared   elected   under   rule   81,   the   Returning   Officer  shall grant to such candidate a certificate of election in  Form   25   and   obtain   from   the   candidate   an  acknowledgment of its receipt duly signed by him.

“90. Manner of notifying election.­  The Commission  shall notify or cause to be notified: (a) every election of a Panch and Sarpanch of a Gram  Panchayat,   by   affixing   a   notice   in   Form   26­A   on   the  notice   board   in   the   office   of   the   Gram   Panchayat  concerned   and   in   the   office   of   the   Janpad   Panchayat  within such Gram Panchayat is situate; (b)  every election of a member of a Janpad Panchayat,  by affixing a notice in Form 26­B on the notice board in  the office of the Janpad Panchayat concerned and in the  office of the District Election Officer, and (c)  every election of a member of a Zila Panchayat, by  affixing a notice in Form 26­C on the notice board in the  4 office   of   the   Zila   Panchayat   and   in   the   office   of   the  District Election Officer.”

In   the   case   at   hand   the   record   received   from   the  Prescribed   Officer,   GunNo.  reveals   that,   the   notification   and  certificate   were   issued   on   3.2.2010.

    The   election   petition,  therefore,   ought   to   have   been   filed   on   or   before   3.3.2010.  Instead, as apparent from the record that the election petition  was filed on 5.3.2010.  The election petition, therefore, was not  filed   within   thirty   days   from     from   the   date   on   which   the  election in question was notified.

In   view   whereof   the   conclusion   arrived   at   by   the  prescribed officer that the election petition was barred by time,  hence not entertainable cannot be faulted with .   In the result  petition fails and is dismissed.  No costs.

 (SANJAY YADAV) JUDGE Vivek Tripathi