The High Court dismissed a writ petition challenging the Election Tribunal's order of vote recounting. The court held that there was prima facie a breach of rules due to a discrepancy in vote figures between Form 4 and Form 6, but found no jurisdictional error and dismissed the petition.
Writ petition failed and is dismissed.
This page shows the compact analysis of this judgement. The full analysis — procedural history, issue-by-issue holdings with ratio and obiter, advocates, and paragraph-level evidence for every claim — is being added to the record in batches and will appear here when this judgement has been through it.
Court No. - 07
Case :- WRIT - C No. - 20449 of 2018
Petitioner :- Phula Respondent :- Sub Divisional Magistrate And 10 Others Counsel for Petitioner :- Alok Kumar Yadav Counsel for Respondent :- C.S.C.,Badal Chatterjee,Chandan Sharma
Hon'ble Surya Prakash Kesarwani,J.
Heard Sri H.N. Singh assisted by Sri Alok Kumar Yadav, learned counsel for the petitioner and Sri Chandan Sharma along with Sri Badal Chatterjee, learned counsel for respondent No.2 and Sri L.K. Tripathi, learned Additional Chief Standing Counsel for the State-respondents.
This petition has been filed praying for the following relief:
“(i) issue a writ, order or direction in the nature of certiorari to quash the impugned order dated 25.05.2018 passed by Respondent No.1 (Annexure No.17 to the writ petition'
(ii) issue an appropriate order or directions which this Hon'ble Court may deem fit and proper in the facts and circumstances of the case; (iv) award the cost of above-mentioned Writ Petition to the Petitioner.”
Briefly stated facts of the present case are that in the election of Village Pradhan of Village Panchayat Pindara, Block Pindara, District Varanasi held on 01.12.2015, the petitioner was declared elected on 13.12.2015. She defeated the election petitioner/ respondent No.2 by two votes. The petitioner herein secured 2548 votes while election petitioner/ respondent no.2 secured 2546 votes. The election petitioner/ respondent No.2 filed an Election Petition No.6 of 2016 on 07.01.2016 under Section 12-C of the U.P. Panchayat Raj Act, 1947 (hereinafter referred to as 'the Act') before the Election Tribunal, Pindara which was subsequently transferred to Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Raja Talab, Varanasi and it was renumbered as Election Petition no.33 of 2018.
The election petition was filed mainly on the ground under Section 12C(1)(b) (ii) of the Act, which is reproduced below:-
“by gross failure to comply with the provisions of this Act or Rules framed thereunder.'
While the election petition was pending, an application dated 15.09.2016 was moved by the election petitioner to summon the counterfoil of the used ballots. This application was allowed by the election Tribunal vide order dated 10.11.2016. The petitioner herein filed a recall application on 17.11.2016 which was dismissed
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by order dated 30.01.2017. Aggrieved with these two orders, the petitioner herein filed a Writ-C No.15862 of 2017 (Smt. Phula Devi vs. State of U.P. and others) challenging the orders dated 10.11.2016 and 30.01.2017, which was dismissed by this court by order dated 13.11.2017. By the aforesaid order, this court rejected the contention of the petitioner herein, observing that the power to summon the documents in question is conferred upon the Election Tribunal under Rule 57(1) of the U.P. Panchayat Rule, 47 (hereinafter referred to as the Rules). It appears that the petitioner herein filed an application dated 17.11.2017 for summoning of Counting Supervisors for recording their statements. This application was rejected by the Election Tribunal by order dated 30.12.2017. Against this order, the petitioner filed Writ-C No.189 of 2018 (Phula vs. Prescribed Authority Sub Divisional Magistrate And 11 Others), which was dismissed by judgment dated 14.03.2018.
Thereafter, the Election Tribunal passed the impugned order dated 25.05.2018 providing for recounting of the votes after detailed discussion and recorded following findings:
“eSus mHk; i{kksa ds fo}ku vf/koDrkvksa ds rdksZa dks lquk ,oa i=koyh ij miyC/k leLr lk{;ksa ,oa nkf[ky izi=ksa :fy a x vkfn dk lE;d voyksdu fd;kA voyksduksaijkar loZizFke bl fcUnq dk fu/kkZj.k djuk gS fd izi= 4 x.kuk iphZ ,oa ifjf'k"V 6 la;qDr pkVZ esa fn[kk;s x;s erksa esa ,d:irk gS vFkok ughA ;kfp }kjk nkf[ky fd;s x;s izi= 4 dh izekf.kr Nk;kizfr ,oa izi= 6 dh izekf.kr Nk;kizfr tks izi= 4 ds x.kuk ls gh cukbZ tkrh gS ds voyksduksaijkar ;g er mHkjrk gS fd Li"Vr% bl fcanw dks bl otg ls ,d:i ugha ik;k tk ldrk gS D;ksafd cwFk ua0 240 ds lEcU/k esa izi= 4 dh izekf.kr Nk;kizfr i=koyh ij miyC/k gh ugh gSa cwFk ua0 240 ds laca/k esa ;kfp }kjk ftyk fuokZpu vf/kdkjh iapk;r okjk.klh }kjk Li"Vhdj.k fnukad 06-01-2016 dks nkf[ky fd;k x;k gSA ftlesa Li"Vr% mYys[k fd;k x;k gS fd mijksDRk x.kuk ds dze esa cwFk la0 240 dh erx.kuk dh iphZ dk;kZy; esa miyC/k gh ugh gSA fofnr izfdz;k ds vuqlkj Li"V gS fd x.kuk iphZ 4 ds vk/kkj ij gh la;qDr pkVZ ifjf'k"V 6 cuk;k tkrk gSA mHk; i{kksa }kjk bl rF; dks Lohdkj fd;k x;k gS fd cwFk la0 240 dh izi= 4 dh izekf.kr izfrfyfi ftls ftyk fuokZpu iapk;r us dk;kZy; esa miyC/k u gksuk Lohdkj fd;k gSA i=koyh ij miyC/k ugh gSA va'kr% gh miyC/k izi= 4 ,oa mlls feyus okys cwFk la0 tks izi= 6 ij miyC/k la0 ds feyku ls laHko ugha gSa ,d:irk ds iz'u dk fuf'pr fujkdj.k laHko ugh gS vr% foospuk ls ;g fcanq ;kfp ds i{k esa Lohdkj fd;k tkrk gSA ftlls iqu% erksa dh x.kuk ds vk/kkj ij gh Li"V feyku laHko gksuk izfrr gksrk gSA
okn fcanq 2 ds vuqlkj ;g fu.kZ; gksuk gS fd ernku esa dqy fdrus er iMsA ;kfp us ihBklhu dh Mk;jh ij miyC/k 6491 erksa dk ftdz fd;k gSA ,oa blds laca/k esa cwFk okj ¼226 ls cwFk la0 240 rd½ dh ihBklhu dh Mk;jh dh izekf.kr Nk;kizfr Hkh nkf[ky dh xbZ gSA ogha nwljh rjQ la;qDr pkVZ izi= 6 ds voyksdu ls Li"V gS fd oksVksa dh dqy la0 ¼6297 oS/k er ,oa 105 voS/k er ½ 6402 er gSA ;gka ;g rF; fofnr gksrk gS fd tkjh fd;s x;s er ,oa cSysV ckDl esa Ikk;s x;s erksa esa 89 erksa dk varj gSA bu varj esa ik;s tkus okys ekrksa dks la[;k dks izi= 4 ls feykus ij izfroknh }kjk Hkh ;g rF; Lohdkj fd;k x;k gS fd 19 erksa dk Li"V varj gS ,oa 70 oksVksa esa ;kfp }kjk dfVax ,oa vksoj jkbfVax dj la[;k dks tksM ?kVk ds feyk fn;k x;k gSA blds vfrfjDr eri= ys[kk dk cwFkokj tks izekf.kr Nk;k izfr Hkh nkf[ky gS mlds dzekad 5 ij er isVh esa Mkys x;s er i=ksa dh la[;k dk mYys[k gSA vr% dzekad 5 er i= ys[kk ij mfYyf[kr fcanq ls bl la'k; dks nwj ugh fd;k tk ldrk gSA
vr% mijksDRk foospuk ls ,slk izrhr gksrk gS fd dgha u dgha x.kuk esa dqN =qfV gqbZ gS ftls mHk; i{kksa us vius vius fglkc ,oa lgqfy;r ds vuqlkj Lohdj Hkh fd;k gSA ernku esa dqy fdrus oksV iMs ;|fi bldk vlj izFke n`"V;k pquko ds ifj.kke ij iMrk izfrr ugh gksrk ijUrq dqy oksV dh la[;k esa varj ,oa mHk; i{kksa dh x.kuk esa esU;wiys'ku dks Lohdkj
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djus ds dkj.k ;g fcUnw Hkh ;kfp ds i{k esa fuf.kZr fd;k tkrk gSA
okn fcan q 3 ,oa 4 dks ,d lkFk i<uk ,oa fu.kZ; fd;k tkuk vko';d gSA izi= 6 la;qDr pkVZ ds voyksdu ls ;g ifjyf{kr gksrk gS fd mfYyf[kr voS/k erksa dh la0 105 gSA izi= 6 esa dqy voS/k erksa dh gh la[;k dk o.kZu fd;k x;k gS uk fd izR;klh okj fdldks fdrus voS/k er feys gSA vr% ;g fcUnw fd oksVksa dh x.kuk ds nkSjku dqy fdrus voS/k er ;kfp dks ,oa dqy fdrus voS/k er izfroknh dks feys gSA bldk fu/kkZj.k laHko ugh gSA blh dze esa ;kfp ds fdu 28 erksa dks x.kuk esa 'kkfey ugh fd;k x;k gSA ;g Hkh Li"V :i ls ifjyf{kr ugh gks ik jgk gSA ;g rF; rks Li"V gS fd dqy fdrus voS/k erksa dh la[;k gS tks fd izi= 6 ds vuqlkj 105 vkrh gSA ijarq bl mRrj ij igqpuk fd bu dqy 105 voS/k erksa esa fdl izR;klh dks fdrus voS/k er feys gS ,oa ;kfp ds dkSu ls 28 erksa dks x.kuk esa 'kkfey ugh fd;k x;k gS bls feyku djuk laHko izfrr ugh gks jgk gSA vr% ;g okn fcUnq ;kfp ds fo:) fuf.kZr fd;s tkrs gSA
okn fcanq 5 ftlesa ;g iz'u mBrk gS fd D;k ;kfpdkdrhZ iquZer x.kuk djkus dh vf/kdkjh.kh gS\ bl fcanq ds fu.kZ; gsrq i=koyh dh iqu% xgu foospuk dh xbZA pqafd izi= 4 ,oa izi= 6 la;qDr pkVZ dh ,d:irk igys gh lafnX/k djkj nh xbZ gSA ;g rF; mHk; i{kksa dks Lohdkj gS fd izi= 4 ds x.kuk ds gh vk/kkj ij izi= 6 ¼la;qDr pkVZ ½ curk gSA ;g rF; Hkh mHk; i{kksa dks Lohdkj gS fd cwFk la0 240 dh x.kuk iphZ ¼izi= 4½ i=koyh ij miyC/k ugh gS ftls ftyk fuokZpu vf/kdkjh okjk.klh }kjk Hkh fyf[kr :i ls Li"Vhdj.k fn;k gS fd cwFk la0 240 dh erx.kuk iphZ izi= 4 dk;kZy; esa miyC/k ugh gSA blls ;g izfrr gksrk gS fd erx.kuk dks ysdj mHk; i{k esa dgh uk dgh la'k; fo|eku gSA blh dze esa foospuk djus ij rF; lkeus vkrs gs fd oksVks dh dqy fxurh ,oa dqy voS/k oksVksa dh la0 ij Hkh mHk; i{k ,d er ugh gSA blds vfrfjDr izfroknh us Lo;a vius fyf[kr cgl esa bl rF; ij izdk'k Mkyk gS fd ;kfp us izi=ksa ds lkFk dqN uk dqN eSuwIys'ku fd;k gSA ftlls dqy erks dh l0 izi= 4 ,oa ihBklhu dh Mk;jh esa vafdr erksa dh la0 esa fHkUurk vkrh gSA ;g Li"V djuk Hkh lehphu gksxk fd mHk;i{kksa }kjk nkf[ky ekuuh; loksZPp U;k;ky; o ekuuh; mPp U;k;ky; }kjk fn;s x;s n`"Vkarksa dk voyksdu fd;k x;kA izfroknh }kjk nkf[ky ekuuh; mPp U;k;ky; ,oa ekuuh; loksZPp U;k;ky; ds uthj ij esjk viuk vfHker gS fd bu uthjksa ds QSDV ,oa ldZeLVkalsl vyx vyx gSa ,oa mDr ;kfpdk ds QSDV ,oa ldZeLVkalsl esa ,Iyhdscy ugh gks rks izfrr gks jgk gSA ;g loZfofnr vo/kkj.kk gS fd U;k; ij lcdk vf/kdkj gSA U;k;k feyuk ,oa Rofjr U;k; feyuk vR;ar vko';d gSA ;fn ;g rF; Lohdkj Hkh dj fy;k tk;s fd izfroknh us lkQ lqFkjs rkSj ij erx.kuk esa thr gkfly dh gS rks iqUk% erx.kuk esa og fQj thr ysxk vkSj blls ;kfp dh Hkh la'k; lekIr gks tk;sxk fd izfroknh us pquko izfdz;k esa dgh u dgh xMcMh dh gSA lkFk gh ekuuh; mPp U;k;ky; o ekuuh; loksZPp U;k;ky; ds vusdksa vkns'kksa e s ;g er loZfofnr gS fd erx.kuk esa dqN gsjk Qsjh] /kka/kyh ,oa eri=ksa esa gsjk Qsjh dk lk{; ifjyf{kr gksrk gS rks iquZerx.kuk dk vkns'k fuxZr djus esa dksbZ gkfu ugh gSA blls vfrfjDr erks dh la[;k ,d lkaf[kdh; fxurh gS vkSj mldks fdlh Hkh :i esa fdlh Hkh QkeZ esa fdlh Hkh izi= ij fdlh Hkh pkVZ ij dSls Hkh iznf'kZr fd;k tk;s og la[;k gj ckj ,d lh gh gksxhA ijarq ;g lkaf[dh; fla)kar mijksDr ;kfpdk esa lfVd cSBrh gqbZ izfrr ugh gksrh gSA blh vk/kkj ij ;g okn fcanq ;kfp ds i{k esa vfHkfuf.kZr dh tkrh gSA ,oa blds izHkko ds dze esa iquZerx.kuk djk;k tkuk mfpr ,oa U;k;ksfpr izfrr gksrk gSA okn fcUnw 6& fgUnh esa mYys[k
vkns'k 6 fu;e 16 ds ifjizs{; esa okn fcanqvksa ds foospuk ds dze esa ;g fofnr gksrk gS fd mijksDr esa 5 esa ls 3 okn fcanq ;kfp ds i{k esa Lohdkj fd;s x;s gSA vr% dgh ls ijfyf{kr ugh gksrk gS fd ;g ;kfpdk izfroknh dks ijs'kku gSjku djus okyh U;kf;d izfdz;k dk guu djus ds fy, nk;j fd;k x;k gSA vr% vkns'k 6 fu;e 16 ls ;g ;kfpdk izHkkfor gksrk gqvk ugha izfrr gksrk gSA mijksDr lkjxfHkZRk foospuk ls ,slk izfrr gks gS fd mHk; i{kksa ds e?; erksa dh la[;k dks ysdj ,d:irk dk vHkko gSA cwFk la0 240 ds erx.kuk iphZ ¼izi= 4½ dk vuqiyC/k gksuk Hkh la[;k ds ,d:irk dks izHkkfor djrk gSA lkFk gh ekuuh; loksZPp U;k;ky; ,oa ekuuh; mPp U;k;ky; }kjk iquZerx.kuk lEca/kh :fyax Hkh bl ;kfpdk ds rF;ksa ,oa ? kVukdzeks ls alacaf/kr gksrs gq, izfrr gksrs gSA bUgh dkj.kks als ;kfp }kjk iapk;r jkT; vf/kfu;e dh /kkjk 12 x esa nk;j ;kfpdk iks"k.kh; izfrr gksrk gSA ,oa iquZerx.kuk djkus dk dkj.k Hkh nf'kZr gksrk gqvk izrhr gksrk gSA vr% ;kfpdk Lohdkj djrs gq, iquZerx.kuk djkuk lehphu gSA
vkns'k
xzke iapk;r fi.Mªk] fodkl [k.M fi.Mªk rglhy fi.Mªk okjk.klh ds iz/kku in gsrq erx.kuk dks iqu% djk;k tk;sA iquZerx.kuk gsrq ch0Mh0vks0 fi.Mªk ,oa rglhynkj fi.Mªk dks erx.kuk vf/kdkjh ds :i esa ukfer djrs gq, funsZf'kr fd;k tkrk gS fd ;Fkk'kh?kz vko';d
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iqfyl cy ,oa mHk; i{kksa dh mifLFkfr esa iquZerx.kuk dk;Zdze dh fu;ekuqlkj :ijs[kk rS;kj djrs gq, iquZerx.kuk djkdj mlds ifj.kkeksa ls bl U;k;ky; dks voxr djk;saA”
Learned counsel for the petitioner submits as under:-
(i) The Election Petition filed by the petitioner was solely out side the “Section 5 of the Act and it was not maintainable.”
(ii) No breach of Rules could be pointed by the election petitioner. Therefore, the order of recounting is wholly arbitrary and illegal.
(iii) Merely because there was some difference in the figures disclosed in Form-4, Form-6 and diary of the Presiding Officer of the polling booth; no interference can be drawn for infraction of Rules 104, 105, 106 and 107 of the Rules.
Learned counsel for the election petitioner/ respondent No.2 submits as
under:
(i) The contents of the election petition clearly disclosed infraction of Rules 104 to 107 of the Rules. Therefore, sub-clause (ii) of Clause (b) of sub-section(1) of Section 12C of the Act, is clearly attracted on the facts of the present case. The pleadings in the election petition based on specific material/ evidence support the grounds of breach of the Rules.
(ii) Form 4 and 6 are prepared at the time of counting. On the basis of Form4, Form 6 is prepared. As per Form-4, there were total 15 booths starting from booth Nos.226 to 240. Form-4 of Booth No.240 was either not prepared or is not available. As per diary of the Presiding Officer, Polling Station, the total number of votes polled were 6491 out of which at the time of counting the total number of votes polled found were 6402. As per For-6, total number of votes were found to be 6402 out of which 6297 votes are recorded as valid and 105 votes are recorded as invalid. However, when figures given in Form-4 are counted, the total number of invalid votes comes to 182. The specific case of the election petitioner was gross failure in observance of Rules 104 to 107, which resulted in difference of invalid votes between Form-4 (182 votes) and as per Form-6 (105 votes). Due to malpractice the votes in favour of the petitioner were illegally shown as invalid so as to declare the petitioner herein/ respondent No.2 to be an elected candidate.
I have carefully considered the submissions of learned counsels for the parties and perused the record.
Detailed findings of fact based on consideration of relevant material have been recorded by the Election Tribunal to come to a prima facie conclusion of infraction of the provisions of the Rules and necessity of recounting. The
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conclusion reached is based on material on record.
With the help of learned counsels for the parties, this court has also counted the figures as mentioned in copies of Form-4, Form-6 and diary of the Presiding Officer ( Peethasin Adhiksari ), and found that there is much difference. The figures of invalid votes as per Form-6 is 105 and as per Form-4, it comes to 182. Form-6 is prepared on the basis of figures given in Form-4. Therefore, prima facie there appears to be a clear breach of Rules in counting. That apart Form-4 of booth No.240 is not available which was required to be kept safely under the Rules till holding of the next election as required under Rule 113.
It is undisputed that the Election Tribunal has the power to order for recounting. Thus, the order of the Election Tribunal cannot be said to suffer from any jurisdictional error.
In view of the above discussion, I do not find any merit in this writ petition. Consequently, the writ petition fails and is hereby dismissed . Order Date :- 01.06.2018 NLY
3 issues framed by the court
Whether the order of counting officers recording a discrepancy in invalid votes between Form 4 and Form 6 amounts to a gross failure to comply with election rules warranting quashing.
Whether the Election Petitioner proved gross failure to comply with the Act or Rules under Section 12C of the U.P. Panchayat Raj Act, 1947.
Whether the High Court should quash the Election Tribunal's order of recounting the votes and declare the challenge to the election maintained.
Phula
Sub Divisional Magistrate And 10 Others
Surya Prakash Kesarwani
As recorded by the court registry
Judgements on the same questions, provisions and authorities, from every court
