{"id":173466,"date":"2004-04-05T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2004-04-04T18:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.legalindia.com\/judgments\/chandrika-prasad-yadav-vs-state-of-bihar-ors-on-5-april-2004"},"modified":"2017-08-03T02:56:48","modified_gmt":"2017-08-02T21:26:48","slug":"chandrika-prasad-yadav-vs-state-of-bihar-ors-on-5-april-2004","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.legalindia.com\/judgments\/chandrika-prasad-yadav-vs-state-of-bihar-ors-on-5-april-2004","title":{"rendered":"Chandrika Prasad Yadav vs State Of Bihar &amp; Ors on 5 April, 2004"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"docsource_main\">Supreme Court of India<\/div>\n<div class=\"doc_title\">Chandrika Prasad Yadav vs State Of Bihar &amp; Ors on 5 April, 2004<\/div>\n<div class=\"doc_author\">Author: S.B. Sinha<\/div>\n<div class=\"doc_bench\">Bench: Cji, S.B. Sinha, S.H. Kapadia.<\/div>\n<pre>           CASE NO.:\nAppeal (civil)  1999 of 2003\n\nPETITIONER:\nChandrika Prasad Yadav\n\nRESPONDENT:\nState of Bihar &amp; Ors.\n\nDATE OF JUDGMENT: 05\/04\/2004\n\nBENCH:\nCJI, S.B. Sinha &amp; S.H. Kapadia.\n\nJUDGMENT:\n<\/pre>\n<p>J U D G M E N T<\/p>\n<p>With Contempt Petition (Civil) No. 174\/2003<\/p>\n<p>S.B. SINHA, J:\n<\/p>\n<p> \tThe extent of jurisdiction of election tribunal to<br \/>\ndirect recounting of votes is the primal question involved<br \/>\nin this appeal which arises out of a judgment and order<br \/>\ndated 18.11.2002 passed by a Division Bench of the High<br \/>\nCourt of Judicature at Patna in L.P.A. No. 1149\/2002<br \/>\ndismissing the appeal arising out of an order dated<br \/>\n7.10.2002 passed in Writ Petition marked as CWJC No.<br \/>\n5004\/2002 whereby and whereunder a learned Single Judge of<br \/>\nthe High Court allowed the writ petition filed by the<br \/>\nrespondent herein questioning an order of the election<br \/>\ntribunal dated 20.10.2001.\n<\/p>\n<p>BACKGROUND FACTS:\n<\/p>\n<p> \tThe private parties hereto contested an election for<br \/>\nthe post of Mukhiya of Raj Gamhariya, Gram Panchayat.  The<br \/>\nsaid election was held on 19.4.2001 and the votes polled<br \/>\ntherein were counted on 20.5.2001.  The contention of the<br \/>\nappellant was that the returning officer had informed him<br \/>\nthat he had secured 900 votes out of which 150 had been<br \/>\ndeclared invalid and, thus, he got 670 valid votes whereas<br \/>\nthe respondent Mahendra Rai had secured only 622 votes.<br \/>\nHowever, when the result was finally declared on 21.5.2001,<br \/>\nthe 4th respondent herein was declared elected by securing<br \/>\nallegedly 32 more votes than the appellant herein.  The<br \/>\ntotal votes polled by the appellant was shown as 670 and<br \/>\nvotes polled by the 4th respondent was shown as 702.\n<\/p>\n<p> \tThe appellant allegedly moved an application for<br \/>\nrecounting of votesbefore the returning officer but the same<br \/>\nwas not entertained.  The appellant thereafter filed an<br \/>\nelection petition questioning the election of the 4th<br \/>\nrespondent herein before the learned Munsif, Raxoul, East<br \/>\nChamparan primarily on the ground of irregularities in<br \/>\ncounting of votes.  Before the election tribunal, the<br \/>\nparties adduced their respective evidences whereafter the<br \/>\nlearned Munsif by an order dated 20.10.2001 directed<br \/>\ninspection and recounting of ballot papers; pursuant to or<br \/>\nin furtherance whereof the Returning Officer, East Champaran<br \/>\nwas directed to produce the ballot papers.\n<\/p>\n<p> \tAggrieved thereby and dissatisfied therewith, a writ<br \/>\npetition was filed by the 4th respondent herein which was,<br \/>\nhowever, withdrawn.  Recounting of the ballot papers was<br \/>\nheld on 23.3.2002 as a result whereof the appellant was said<br \/>\nto have secured 671 votes; whereas the 4th respondent<br \/>\nsecured 667 votes.  The Election Petition, therefore,<br \/>\nthereafter was allowed by a judgment and order dated<br \/>\n6.4.2002.  The 4th respondent being aggrieved by and<br \/>\ndissatisfied therewith filed a writ petition before the<br \/>\nPatna High Court which was marked as CWJC No. 5004\/2002.  By<br \/>\nan order dated 7.10.2002, the said writ petition was allowed<br \/>\nwhereagainst a Letters Patent Appeal was filed by the<br \/>\nappellant herein which was dismissed by a Division Bench of<br \/>\nthe High Court. Hence this appeal by special leave.\n<\/p>\n<p>SUBMISSIONS:\n<\/p>\n<p> \tMr. Amarendra Sharan, learned senior counsel appearing<br \/>\non behalf of the appellant would submit that the High Court<br \/>\ncommitted a manifest error in passing the impugned judgment<br \/>\npurporting to rely upon or on the basis of the decision of<br \/>\nthis Court in Ram Rati (Smt.) Vs. Saroj Devi and Others<br \/>\n[(1997) 6 SCC 66] wherein it has been held that it is<br \/>\nmandatory for the election petitioner to file an application<br \/>\nfor recounting of votes before the returning officer in<br \/>\nterms of the election rules, although the same has since<br \/>\nbeen overruled by a 3-Judge Bench of this Court in Sohan Lal<br \/>\nVs. Babu Gandhi and Ors. [JT 2002 (9) SC 474: (2003) 1 SCC<br \/>\n108].\n<\/p>\n<p> \tThe learned counsel would urge that as in a democracy<br \/>\nthe rule of majority should prevail, the learned Munsif was<br \/>\nwithin his jurisdiction to direct recounting of votes upon<br \/>\nsatisfying itself the necessity therefor and in that view of<br \/>\nthe matter the High Court should not have interfered with<br \/>\nthe said judgment.\n<\/p>\n<p> \tMr. Sharan would submit that the learned Munsif had<br \/>\nassigned valid and cogent reasons in support of his order<br \/>\nupon taking into consideration the pleadings of the parties<br \/>\nand the evidences brought on records and in that view of the<br \/>\nmatter the High Court erred in setting aside the same.\n<\/p>\n<p> \tMr. Rakesh Dwivedi, learned senior counsel appearing on<br \/>\nbehalf of the 4th respondent, on the other hand, would<br \/>\ncontend that the High Court has rightly proceeded on the<br \/>\npremise that the pleadings of the appellant being vague and<br \/>\ngeneral in nature, no case was made out for recounting of<br \/>\nvotes.  The learned counsel pointed out that prayer for<br \/>\nrecounting of votes made by the appellant was on the basis<br \/>\nthat he had filed a proper application before the returning<br \/>\nofficer but he failed to prove the said fact nor brought on<br \/>\nthe records of the case a copy thereof.  As regard the<br \/>\nfindings of the learned Munsif to the effect that the Ex.<br \/>\nA\/20 contained cutting and over-writing, the learned counsel<br \/>\nwould submit that no such case had been made out in the<br \/>\nelection petition.  It was pointed out that in any event<br \/>\nhaving regard to the fact that 100 valid votes had not been<br \/>\ncounted so far as the appellant is concerned; and in fact<br \/>\nmore than 400 votes polled by the 4th respondent herein<br \/>\nwere held to be not valid and, thus, the appellant herein<br \/>\nwas not prejudiced at all.\n<\/p>\n<p> \tDrawing our attention to the judgment of the learned<br \/>\nSingle Judge as also the Division Bench of the High Court,<br \/>\nthe learned counsel would urge that the High Court analysed<br \/>\nthe pleadings of the appellant made in his election petition<br \/>\nand came to the conclusion that the same are absolutely<br \/>\nvague and general in nature and no reliance thereupon could<br \/>\nhave been placed by the learned Munsif.  Filing of an<br \/>\napplication before the returning officer for recounting of<br \/>\nvotes may not be mandatory but Mr. Dwivedi would aruge that<br \/>\nthe same goes a long way to show that as to on what basis<br \/>\nthe recounting was sought for.  The order of the returning<br \/>\nofficer allowing or rejecting the same, the learned counsel<br \/>\nwould contend, be of great assistance for the Election<br \/>\nTribunal to judge the correctness thereof.\n<\/p>\n<p>STATUTORY PROVISIONS:\n<\/p>\n<p> \tSection 140 of the Bihar Panchayat Raj Act, 1993<br \/>\nmandates that the election of Mukhiya shall not be called in<br \/>\nquestion before any forum except by way of an election<br \/>\npetition.  The State of Bihar in exercise of its power<br \/>\nconferred upon it under Section 121 of the said Act framed<br \/>\nrules known as Bihar Panchayat Election Rules.  It is not in<br \/>\ndispute that various provisions exist as regard rejection or<br \/>\nacceptance of votes and the right of a candidate or his<br \/>\nauthorised agent to question the same by filing an<br \/>\nappropriate application therefor before the prescribed<br \/>\nauthority.  Rule 79 of the Rules provides that the candidate<br \/>\nor in his absence his agent or his counting agent can file<br \/>\nan application to the election officer or the officer(s)<br \/>\nauthorised by him praying for recounting and the basis<br \/>\ntherefor.  On reciept of such an application, the election<br \/>\nofficer can accept either in whole or in part the same or<br \/>\nreject the same wherefor reasons are required to be<br \/>\nassigned.  In the event of election officer accepting either<br \/>\nin whole or in part such a prayer of the candidate, he would<br \/>\nrecount the votes whereafter the result or the number of<br \/>\nvotes polled may be amended.  However, no application would<br \/>\nbe accepted for further recounting.\n<\/p>\n<p>ANALYSIS OF REUIREMENTS OF LAW :\n<\/p>\n<p> \tThe law relating to recounting of votes is now well-<br \/>\nsettled.  The provisions of the Act and the rules framed<br \/>\nthereunder provide that in relation to an election petition<br \/>\nthe provisions of the Code of Civil Procedure would apply.<br \/>\nAn election petition, therefore, must contain coincise<br \/>\nstatement of material facts.  It is well-settled that the<br \/>\nquestion as to what would constitute material facts would<br \/>\ndepend upon the facts and circumstances of each case.\n<\/p>\n<p> \tWe have been taken through the averments made in the<br \/>\nelection petition.  The learned Single Judge of the High<br \/>\nCourt in his judgment dated 7.10.2002 upon noticing<br \/>\nparagraphs 6 to 11 and 17 of the election petition held:\n<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;10. From the pleadings of respondent<br \/>\nNo. 4, it is manifest that the<br \/>\nallegations made by him were quite vague<br \/>\nand did not come up to the stringent<br \/>\nstandards laid down by the Supreme<br \/>\nCourt.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p> \tThe appellant has not produced before us a copy of the<br \/>\naffidavit affirmed in support of the Election Petition to<br \/>\nshow as to how the averments made in the Election Petition<br \/>\nwere verified.\n<\/p>\n<p> \tOur attention has also been drawn to paragraphs 19 to<br \/>\n21 by Mr. Sharan which read as under:\n<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;19. That, in all 16 Booths were in the<br \/>\nelectoral area of Gram Panchayat Raj,<br \/>\nGamhariya Kala, vide Booth No. 106 to\n<\/p>\n<p>121.<\/p>\n<p>20. That, the dependent No. 1 has<br \/>\nwrongly been declared elected, by a<br \/>\nmargin of 32 votes, as against the<br \/>\nplaintiff.\n<\/p>\n<p>21. That, as a matter of fact, the<br \/>\nplaintiff has got, near about 200 excess<br \/>\nvalid votes than the defendant No. 1.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p> \tThe averments made in the said paragraphs do not<br \/>\nimprove the appellant&#8217;s case inasmuch as therein also no<br \/>\nmaterial fact has been averred as to how and in what matter<br \/>\nthe so-called valid votes were kept out of consideration or<br \/>\ninvalid votes had been taken into consideration.  The<br \/>\nappellant in paragraph 11 of the election petition<br \/>\ncategorically stated that a request was made to the<br \/>\nreturning officer for recounting of the votes but he did not<br \/>\npay any heed thereto.  In the aforementioned situation, it<br \/>\nwas obligatory on the part of the appellant to prove the<br \/>\nsaid fact.  The averments made in the election petition<br \/>\nclearly go to show that the appellant was aware of his right<br \/>\nto file an appropriate application before the returning<br \/>\nofficer praying for a recounting.  If the said application<br \/>\nwas not entertained, he should have proved the said fact by<br \/>\nbringing on record the original application which was<br \/>\nrefused to be accepted or a copy thereof.  He should have<br \/>\nalso adduced evidence in that behalf before the learned<br \/>\nMunsif.\n<\/p>\n<p>In his order dated 20.10.2001, the learned Munsif held:\n<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;In view of documentary as well as oral<br \/>\nevidence I find that there are<br \/>\nsufficient materials available on record<br \/>\nto show that allegation of petitioner,<br \/>\nabout illegal reception of votes in<br \/>\nfavour of opposite party and mischief in<br \/>\npreparation of result are clearly<br \/>\nevidence and euitch (sic) about<br \/>\nsomething hidden.  In Pvt (sic) 4\/12<br \/>\nG.P. Mahendra Rai was shown to have got<br \/>\n81 votes but on the very first look of<br \/>\nform 20(A\/12) shows that 31 was made 81<br \/>\nand in A\/13 total votes 237 was changed<br \/>\ninto figure 287.  There is no initial in<br \/>\nany cutting like wise in Ext. A\/20<br \/>\nMahendra Rai was shown to have got 509<br \/>\nvotes but it was out (sic) and 122 votes<br \/>\nhave been shown in favour of Mahendra<br \/>\nRai.  There is no initial of any officer<br \/>\non this cutting too.  In oral evidence<br \/>\nD.W.-9 and D.W.-12 have supported the<br \/>\npetitioner allegations.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p> \tThe learned Munsif in his order dated 20.10.2001 failed<br \/>\nto analyse the evidences adduced by the parties.  He also<br \/>\ndid not state as to what materials were brought on record to<br \/>\nshow that there had been illegal reception of votes in<br \/>\nfavour of the opposite party.  Reference to Ex. 4\/12 only<br \/>\nshows certain interpolation but whether the same had<br \/>\nmaterially affected the result or not had not been taken<br \/>\ninto consideration.\n<\/p>\n<p> \tMr. Dwivedi is right in pointing out that whereas the<br \/>\nappellant could have claimed 100 more votes on the basis<br \/>\nthereof, 509 votes polled by the 4th respondent had been<br \/>\nbrought down to 122 votes.  There is also nothing on record<br \/>\nto show that as to how and in what manner D.W.-9 and D.W.-12<br \/>\nhad supported the allegations made by the petitioner.\n<\/p>\n<p> \tThe learned Munsif despite having opined that an order<br \/>\nfor inspection of ballot papers cannot be granted to support<br \/>\nvague pleas and not supported by material facts but failed<br \/>\nto point out as to which averments made by the appellant<br \/>\ncould be accepted as disclosing material facts, on the basis<br \/>\nwhereof an order for recounting could be passed. The said<br \/>\norder dated 20.10.2001 being not supported by any cogent or<br \/>\nvalid reasons could not have been sustained.\n<\/p>\n<p> \tIt is well-settled that an order of recounting of votes<br \/>\ncan be passed when the following conditions are fulfilled:\n<\/p>\n<p>(i)\tA prima facie case;\n<\/p>\n<p>(ii)\tPleading of material facts stating irregularities<br \/>\nin counting of votes;\n<\/p>\n<p>(iii)\tA roving and fishing inquiry shall not be made<br \/>\nwhile directing recounting of votes; and\n<\/p>\n<p>(iv)\tAn objection to the said effect has been taken<br \/>\nrecourse to.\n<\/p>\n<p> \tThe requirement of maintaining the secrecy of ballot<br \/>\npapers must also be kept in view before a recounting can be<br \/>\ndirected.  Narrow margin of votes between the returned<br \/>\ncandidate and the election petitioner by itself would not be<br \/>\nsufficient for issuing a direction for recounting.\n<\/p>\n<p> \tIn M. Chinnasamy Vs. K.C. Palanisamy &amp; Ors. [2003 (10)<br \/>\nSCALE 103] this Court upon noticing a large number of<br \/>\ndecisions held that it is obligatory on the part of the<br \/>\nElection Tribunal to arrive at a positive finding as to how<br \/>\na prima facie case has been made out for issuing a direction<br \/>\nfor recounting holding:\n<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Apart from the clear legal position as<br \/>\nlaid down in several decisions, as<br \/>\nnoticed hereinbefore, there cannot be<br \/>\nany doubt or dispute that only because a<br \/>\nrecounting has been directed, it would<br \/>\nbe held to be sacrosanct to the effect<br \/>\nthat although in a given case the court<br \/>\nmay find such evidence to be at variance<br \/>\nwith the pleadings, the same must be<br \/>\ntaken into consideration. It is now<br \/>\nwell-settled principle of law that<br \/>\nevidence adduced beyond the pleadings<br \/>\nwould not be admissible nor any evidence<br \/>\ncan be permitted to be adduced which is<br \/>\nat variance with the pleadings.  The<br \/>\ncourt at a later stage of the trial as<br \/>\nalso the appellate court having regard<br \/>\nto the rule of pleadings would be<br \/>\nentitled to reject the evidence wherefor<br \/>\nthere does not exist any pleading.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p> \tIt was further held that for the said purpose the<br \/>\nTribunal must arrive at a finding that the errors are of<br \/>\nsuch magnitude which would materially affect the result of<br \/>\nthe election.  As regard standard of proof, this Court held:\n<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;The requirement of laying foundation<br \/>\nin the pleadings must also be considered<br \/>\nhaving regard to the fact that the onus<br \/>\nto prove the allegations was on the<br \/>\nelection petitioner.  The degree of<br \/>\nproof for issuing a direction of<br \/>\nrecounting of votes must be of a very<br \/>\nhigh standard and is required to be<br \/>\ndischarged. [<a href=\"\/doc\/1651963\/\">See Mahender Pratap vs.<br \/>\nKrishan Pal and Others<\/a> &#8211; (2003) 1 SCC<br \/>\n390].\n<\/p>\n<p> \t(See also Mukand Ltd. Vs. Mukand Staff &amp; Officers<br \/>\nAssociation, JT 2004 (3) SC 474)<\/p>\n<p>The order of the learned Munsif did not satisfy the<br \/>\nstatutory requirements.\n<\/p>\n<p>RULE 79 OF BIHAR PANCHAYAT ELECTION RULES, 1995  WHETHER<br \/>\nMANDATORY OR DIRECTORY<\/p>\n<p> \tRule 79 as noticed hereinbefore enables a candidate to<br \/>\nfile an appropriate application for recounting of votes.<br \/>\nRule 79 unlike rules framed by other States does not say<br \/>\nthat such an application would not be maintainable after<br \/>\ndeclarations of the votes polled by the parties or prior<br \/>\nthereto.  Such an application, therefore, can be filed at<br \/>\nany point of time.  The very fact that Sub-rule (3) of Rule<br \/>\n79 provides for amendment of the result relating to the<br \/>\nvotes polled by the respective candidates and as, such<br \/>\namended result is required to be announced in the prescribed<br \/>\nform under Sub-rule (2) of Rule 79, the same itself is a<br \/>\npointer to the fact that even after announcement of result<br \/>\nfor recounting an application would be maintainable.  It may<br \/>\nbe true that only because such an application had not been<br \/>\nfiled before the returning officer by itself may not<br \/>\npreclude the Election Tribunal to go into the question of<br \/>\nrequirement of issuing a direction for recounting but there<br \/>\ncannot be any doubt whatsoever that Rule 79 serves a<br \/>\nsalutary purpose.  Counting of ballot papers in terms of the<br \/>\nrules takes place in presence of the candidate or his<br \/>\ncounting agent.  When an agent or a counting agent or the<br \/>\ncandidate himself notices improper acceptance or rejection<br \/>\nof the ballot papers, he may bring the same to the notice of<br \/>\nthe prescribed authority.  As noticed hereinbefore, in a<br \/>\ngiven case, an application for recounting either before<br \/>\nannouncement of the result or thereafter, would be<br \/>\nmaintainable.  Once an application is filed by an agent or a<br \/>\ncounting agent or the candidate himself pointing out the<br \/>\nirregularities committed by the officers appointed for the<br \/>\ncounting the ballot papers, immediate redressal of<br \/>\ngrievances would be possible.  As indicated hereinbefore,<br \/>\nwhile filing such an application the basis for making a<br \/>\nrequest for recounting of votes is required to be disclosed.<br \/>\nThe returning officer is statutorily enjoined with a duty to<br \/>\nentertain such an application, make an inquiry and pass an<br \/>\nappropriate order in terms of Sub-rule (2) of Rule 79 either<br \/>\naccepting in whole or in part such requests or rejecting the<br \/>\nsame wherefor he is required to assign sufficient or cogent<br \/>\nreasons.  In the event, such an application is allowed<br \/>\neither in whole or in part, he is statutorily empowered to<br \/>\namend the results also.\n<\/p>\n<p> \tOrdinarily, thus, it is expected that the statutory<br \/>\nremedies provided for shall be availed of.  If such an<br \/>\nopportunity is availed of by the Election Petitioner; he has<br \/>\nto state the reasons therefor.  If no sufficient explanation<br \/>\nis furnished by the Election Petitioner as to why such<br \/>\nstatutory remedy was not availed of, the Election Tribunal<br \/>\nmay consider the same as one of the factors for accepting or<br \/>\nrejecting the prayer for recounting.  An order of the<br \/>\nprescribed authority passed in such application would<br \/>\nrender great assistance to the Election Tribunal in arriving<br \/>\nat a decision as to whether a prima facie case for issuance<br \/>\nof direction for recounting has been made out.\n<\/p>\n<p> \tIn Ram Rati (supra) a 2-Judge Bench of this Court while<br \/>\ninterpreting Rule 76 of M.P. Panchayat Elections Rules, 1994<br \/>\nheld:\n<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;&#8230;In the light of the mandatory<br \/>\nlanguage of Rule 76 of the Rules, it is<br \/>\nincumbent upon a candidate or an agent,<br \/>\nif the candidate was not present, to<br \/>\nmake an application in writing and give<br \/>\nreasons in support thereof, while<br \/>\nseeking recounting. If it is not done,<br \/>\nthen the tribunal or the court is not<br \/>\nempowered to direct recounting even<br \/>\nafter adduction of evidence and<br \/>\nconsideration of the alleged<br \/>\nirregularities in the counting&#8230;&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p> \tA 3-Judge Bench, however in Sohan Lal (supra) while<br \/>\nconsidering the provisions of M.P. Panchayat Raj Avam Gram<br \/>\nSwaraj Adhiniyam, 1993 and the Rule 80 of the Rules framed<br \/>\nthereunder held:\n<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;13. In view of Section 122 and the<br \/>\nrules, we are unable to agree with the<br \/>\nratio laid down in Ram Rati&#8217;s case. It<br \/>\nis not correct to hold that, in an<br \/>\nelection petition, after the declaration<br \/>\nof the result, the Court or Tribunal<br \/>\ncannot direct recounting of votes unless<br \/>\nthe party has first applied in writing<br \/>\nfor recounting of votes. There is no<br \/>\nprohibition in the Act or under the<br \/>\nrules prohibiting the Court or Tribunal<br \/>\nto direct a recounting of the votes.\n<\/p>\n<p>Even otherwise a party may not know that<br \/>\nthe recounting is necessary till after<br \/>\nresult is declared. At this stage, it<br \/>\nwould not be possible for him to apply<br \/>\nfor recounting to the Returning Officer.<br \/>\nHis only remedy would be to file an<br \/>\nElection Petition under Section 122. In<br \/>\nsuch a case, the Court or the Tribunal<br \/>\nis bound to consider the plea and where<br \/>\ncase is made out, it may direct recount<br \/>\ndepending upon the evidence led by the<br \/>\nparties. In the present case, there was<br \/>\nobvious error in declaring the result.<br \/>\nWe, therefore, hold that the ratio laid<br \/>\ndown in Ram Rati&#8217;s case is not<br \/>\ncorrect.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p> \tIn Vadivelu Vs. Sundaram and Others [AIR 2000 SC 3230]<br \/>\nwherein this Court while considering a pari materia<br \/>\nprovision contained in T.N. Panchayats Act, 1994 as also<br \/>\nupon noticing a large number of decisions observed:<br \/>\n&#8220;The appellant-election petitioner<br \/>\ncould not make out a case for re-count<br \/>\nof votes. He filed the application for<br \/>\nre-count before the Returning Officer<br \/>\nonly after the declaration of result and<br \/>\nthat was rightly rejected by the<br \/>\nReturning Officer. The appellant had no<br \/>\ncase that the illegality or<br \/>\nirregularity, if any, committed had<br \/>\nmaterially affected the result of the<br \/>\nelection. Taking all the aspects into<br \/>\nconsideration, we are of the view that<br \/>\nthe learned Single Judge was perfectly<br \/>\njustified in holding that the Election<br \/>\nTribunal erred in appointing a<br \/>\nCommissioner and ordering the re-count<br \/>\nof votes. The counsel for the appellant<br \/>\ncontended that the powers of the<br \/>\nrevisional court are not as wide as the<br \/>\npowers of the appellate court and,<br \/>\ntherefore, the learned Single Judge<br \/>\nshould not have set aside the order<br \/>\npassed by the Election Tribunal. We do<br \/>\nnot find any force in this contention.<br \/>\nWhen there is error of jurisdiction or<br \/>\nflagrant violation of the law laid down<br \/>\nby this Court, by exercising the<br \/>\nrevisional powers, the court can set<br \/>\naside the order passed by the Tribunal<br \/>\nto do justice between the parties. The<br \/>\nillegality committed by the Election<br \/>\nTribunal has been corrected by the<br \/>\nrevisional order. We find no merit in<br \/>\nthe present appeal and the same is<br \/>\ndismissed.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p> \tVadivelu (supra) was relied upon by the High Court and<br \/>\nin our opinion having regard to the averments made by the<br \/>\nappellant in his Election Petition the ratio of the said<br \/>\ndecision applies to the fact of the present case also.\n<\/p>\n<p> \tThe question as to whether a statute is directory or<br \/>\nmandatory would not depend upon the phraseology used<br \/>\ntherein.  The principle as regard the nature of the statute<br \/>\nmust be determined having regard to the purpose and object<br \/>\nthe statute seeks to achieve.  (See P.T. Rajan Vs. T.P.M.<br \/>\nSahir and Ors., 2003 (8) SCALE 165)<\/p>\n<p>CONCLUSION  :\n<\/p>\n<p> \tFor the reasons aforementioned, we are of the opinion<br \/>\nthat the judgment of the High Court does not call for any<br \/>\ninterference.  The appeal as also the contempt petition are<br \/>\naccordingly dismissed. No costs.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Supreme Court of India Chandrika Prasad Yadav vs State Of Bihar &amp; Ors on 5 April, 2004 Author: S.B. Sinha Bench: Cji, S.B. Sinha, S.H. Kapadia. CASE NO.: Appeal (civil) 1999 of 2003 PETITIONER: Chandrika Prasad Yadav RESPONDENT: State of Bihar &amp; Ors. DATE OF JUDGMENT: 05\/04\/2004 BENCH: CJI, S.B. Sinha &amp; S.H. Kapadia. JUDGMENT: [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[30],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-173466","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-supreme-court-of-india"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Chandrika Prasad Yadav vs State Of Bihar &amp; Ors on 5 April, 2004 - Free Judgements of Supreme Court &amp; High Court | Legal India<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalindia.com\/judgments\/chandrika-prasad-yadav-vs-state-of-bihar-ors-on-5-april-2004\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Chandrika Prasad Yadav vs State Of Bihar &amp; 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