Election Petitions III

P.A. Mohammed Riyas v. M.K. Raghavan, (2012) 5 SCC 511 was overruled in G.M. Siddeshwar v. Prasanna Kumar, (2013) 4 SCC 776 on the question whether it is imperative to file an affidavit in terms of Order VI, Rule 15(4) of The Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 in support of the averments made in the […]

Maintenance of Election Petitions

Charan Lal Sahu v. Giani Zail Singh, (1984) 1 SCC 390 must clearly govern the present case. It is settled, where a person has no interest at all, or no sufficient interest to support a legal claim or action, he will have no locus standi to sue. The entitlement to sue or locus standi is […]

Exclusion of Votes

Constitution Bench in Konappa Rudrappa Nadgouda v. Viswanath Reddy, AIR 1969 SC 604 cautioned, the rule for exclusion of votes, secured by corrupt practices by the returned candidate, in the computation of the total votes and the consequential declaration of the candidate who secured the next highest number of votes as duly elected, can be […]

Day-Fraction

There can be no doubt, the principle which appears to have evolved over a period of time is, the law frowns upon determining a day with reference to its fractions. The principle, ‘fractions of the day’ are eschewed from consideration, is not a universal principle which knows no exceptions. Clearly the context and the purpose […]

The Tenth Schedule

E.P. Royappa, (1974) 4 SCC 3 is clear, the burden of establishing mala fides is very heavily on the person who alleges it. Courts should not uphold a plea of mala fides on the basis of mere probabilities. _____ It is said, a Judge must not alter the material of which the Act is woven, […]

Monstrosity of Winnability I

“When criminality enters into the grass-root level as well as at the higher levels there is a feeling that ‘monstrosity’ is likely to wither away the multitude and eventually usher in a dreadful fear that would rule supreme creating an incurable chasm in the spine of the whole citizenry” [Hon’ble Justice Dipak Misra, 05.02.2015]. In […]

‘His’ Story: Section 123(3) of The Representation of the People Act, 1951

Sub-section (3) of Section 123 of The Representation of the People Act, 1951 deems the following to be a ‘corrupt practice’: “The appeal by a candidate or his agent or by any other person with the consent of a candidate or his election agent to vote or refrain from voting for any person on the […]

Hon’ble Justice J. Chelameswar on Election Petitions II

“The question whether an election petition challenging the election of a returned candidate on the ground of corrupt practice is required to be accompanied either by one affidavit or two affidavits in view of the insertion of clause (4) of Rule 15 of Order VI, fell for consideration of this Court in P.A. Mohammed Riyas […]

Unwitty Election Petitions

Section 83(1)(a) of The Representation of the People Act, 1951 reads as follows: “An election petition shall contain a concise statement of the material facts on which the petitioner relies.” In Ashraf Kokkur v. Abdul Khader, (2015) 1 SCC 129 it was considered, The Concise Oxford Dictionary has defined ‘concise’ as “giving a lot of […]

Hon’ble Justice J. Chelameswar on Election Petitions I

In view of Section 83(1)(c) of The Representation of the People Act, 1951 in the event of an election petitioner alleging corrupt practices – not only should his petition be verified in the manner laid down in The Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 but should also be accompanied by an affidavit, in the prescribed form, […]

Shri Pranab Mukherjee’s Election

Order XXXIX of The Supreme Court Rules, 1966 deals with Election Petitions under Part III of The Presidential and Vice-Presidential Elections Act, 1952. In Purno Agitok Sangma v. Pranab Mukherjee, (2013) 2 SCC 239 Petitioner questioned the Election of Respondent as President of India under Article 71 of the Constitution read with Order XXXIX of the […]

The Last Word

A Diversion for Lawyers and Others

Election Law