Page 1
Reportable
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION
Civil Appeal No. 8260 OF 2012
Markio Tado ... Appellant
Versus
Takam Sorang ... Respondents
J U D G E M E N T
H.L. Gokhale J.
This statutory appeal under Section 116A of the
Representation of the People’s Act, 1951, seeks to challenge the
judgment and order of the Gauhati High Court dated 12.11.2012, allowing
the Election Petition No. 1(AP) of 2009, renumbered as Election Petition
No. 1 (AP) of 2012, filed by the Respondent No. 1 whereby the election of
the appellant from 20-Tali (ST) constituency of the Arunanchal Pradesh
Assembly was declared void, and whereby the first respondent was
declared elected to the State Legislative Assembly from the said
constituency. After passing of the said judgment and order, the appellant
applied for the stay of the said order, and the learned Judge by his order
dated 16.11.2012 stayed the impugned judgment and order for a periodPage 2
of 14 days from the date of the said order. He made it clear that the
appellant will have the right to participate in the assembly proceedings
but will not have the right to vote and will not be entitled to any
remuneration as an elected member of the assembly. This appeal,
therefrom, was admitted on 27.11.2012, and by the order passed on that
date by this Court, the above order dated 16.11.2012 was directed to
continue to remain in operation. This interim order has been
subsequently continued until further orders.
2. Facts leading to this appeal are as follows.
The appellant and
the respondent No. 1 herein contested the election to the Arunachal
Pradesh Legislative Assembly from 20-Tali (ST) Assembly Constituency
held in October 2009.
The respondent no.1 was the sitting MLA from the
said constituency at the time when the election was held, and the
Government formed by the Indian National Congress was in power in the
State. The appellant was a candidate of the People’s Party of Arunanchal
Pradesh (PPA), and the first respondent was that of the Indian National
Congress. The voting took place on 13.10.2009, and the appellant was
declared elected on 22.10.2009, defeating his nearest rival the
respondent No. 1, by 2713 votes. Respondent No. 1 filed Election Petition
No. 01/2009 to challenge the election of the appellant on the ground of
corrupt practice of booth capturing.
3. This 20-Tali (ST) Assembly Constituency consists of two circles
viz. (i) Tali, and (ii) Pipsorang. Each of the circles was having 10 polling
stations. It was alleged in the petition by the first respondent that on
2Page 3
two polling stations viz. (i) 7-Roing and (ii) 2-Ruhi from circle Tali, boxes
(containing EVMs) were illegally removed by the party workers of the
appellant, and votes in favour of the appellant were cast single handedly.
The genuine voters were not allowed to exercise their voting rights as
they were threatened for their lives by the miscreants of the appellant. It
was claimed that polling agents of the first respondent, at these two
polling stations, jointly reported about the happenings in these polling
stations on 15.10.2009, to the Assistant Returning Officer. It was further
alleged that such incidents also took place in 6 more polling stations.
4. It was stated in para 9 of the petition, that it was necessary to
bring the EVMs and counter foils of Form 17A (register of voters) of these
8-polling stations (mentioned in para-7 of the petition) for forensic test
and other examinations etc. before the Hon’ble Court for proper
adjudication of the case. It was claimed that the votes received by the
appellant in these 8 polling stations were 3763, and if they were deleted
from the votes of appellant, the first respondent would be declared as
elected. It was prayed that the records of (i) register of voters
counterfoils (Form 17-A) of these 8 polling stations described in paragraph
7 of the petition, (ii) EVMs of these 8 polling stations, and (iii) records
relating to 20 Tali (ST) Assembly Constituency be called, and the
appellant be directed to show cause as to why votes cast by booth
capturing in 8 polling stations, in favour of the appellant, should not be
declared as illegal, and the election order dated 22.10.2009 not be
3Page 4
declared as void, and why the respondent No. 1 should not be declared as
the elected candidate.
5. The petition was contested by the appellant by filing a Written
Statement. He submitted that no unfair means were employed by him, or
by his agents, and stated that the allegation of illegal practice adopted in
8 polling stations is completely false. He submitted that the election was
conducted peacefully with free and fair means. The polling stations were
guarded by police personnel who carried arms and ammunition. There
was no booth capturing or criminal intimidation at all. EVMs and voters’
counterfoils were duly verified at the Receiving Centre, and there was no
need to call for any of these documents, nor was there any question to
declare the election void.
6. Thereafter, the learned Judge by his order dated 8.3.2010
formulated the following issues:- (i) Whether the Election Petition is
maintainable?; (ii) Whether the polling team of 7-Roing polling station
alongwith the EVM were kidnapped on 12.10.2009 by PPA Workers?; (iii)
Whether booth capturing was committed at 2-Ruhi and 5-Guchi polling
stations on 13.10.2009 by PPA workers, including the Petitioner?; (iv)
Whether any offence of booth capturing was committed at any of the
other 5 polling stations; (v) Whether Annexures 1 to 9 to the Election
Petition are forged, fabricated and an afterthought?; (vi) Whether the
election of the returned candidate Markio Tado is liable to be declared
void?; and (vii) Whether the Election Petitioner is entitled to be declared
elected?
4Page 5
7. It is relevant to note that, before the evidence could start, the
first respondent filed Interlocutory Application No. 6 of 2010 in the said
Election Petition on 29th March, 2010. In para 1 thereof he submitted as
follows:-
“1. That your applicants beg to state and submit
that some thousand of voters of those 8 polling stations
viz. (i) Giba, (ii) Tungmar, (iii) 15-Richik, (iv) 7-Roing, (v)
10-Yarda, (vi) 5-Guchi, (vii) 8-Dotte, (viii) 2-Ruhi of 20 Tali
(ST) Assembly Constituency have double entry in different
38 polling stations of 13-(ST) Itanagar Assembly
Constituency. So far your applicant knowledge is
concerned about 80% of the voters of 20-(ST) Tali
Assembly Constituency from those 8 polling stations viz.
(i) 6-Giba, (ii) 4-Tugnmar, (iii) 15-Richik, (iv) 7-Roing, (v)
10-Yarda, (vi) 5-Guchi, (vii) 8-Dotte, (viii) 2-Ruhi have cast
their votes at 13-(ST) Itanagar Assembly Constituency and
not at 20-(ST) Tali Constituency.”
Thereafter, he gave the list of 38 polling stations of Itanagar
constituency. He claimed that the total number of such voters, who had
their names in those 38 polling stations, was 1304. He, therefore, prayed
that the record of register of voters counterfoils (Form 17-A) of the above
38 polling stations of 13-(ST) Itanagar Assembly Constituency from the
District Returning Officer, Distt. Papum Pare be called.
8. This application was opposed by the appellant. The learned
Single Judge noted the submissions on behalf of the respondent No. 1. He
also noted the submissions on behalf of the appellant that there was no
allegation of double enrollment, and no issue had been framed in this
respect in the election petition, and therefore the application was liable to
be dismissed. Having noted the submissions, the learned Single Judge
rejected the said application by his order dated 31.03.2010 observing “I
5Page 6
am of the considered view that calling of records as sought for by the
applicant is not justified at this stage.”
9. When the evidence was recorded, PW (1) stated that 1 person
voted for another person. PW (2) stated that she was not allowed to enter
the polling station, and yet she stated that there was single handed
voting. PW (3) was the polling agent of the respondent No. 1, but he did
not state that he lodged any complaint about whatever had happened at
the polling station. PW (4) stated that he was not allowed to enter the
polling station. He stated that the workers of both the parties were not
allowed to enter the polling station, but at the same time he said that the
polling agents of both the parties were inside the polling station. He has
filed no complaint. PW(5) made some interesting statements. He stated
that he was the agent of the Indian National Congress, and he was forced
to vote for his candidate. He also stated that he did not file any complaint
with the presiding officer. PW (6) also made similar interesting
statements in the sense that it was proposed that a few votes be casts in
favour of Indian National Congress. It is relevant to note that at the
polling station, where he cast his vote, Indian National Congress got 42
votes. PW (7) was the polling agent of the first respondent at the Roing
polling station. He claims to have lodged the complaint, but he does not
know who wrote that complaint. PW (8) stated in his cross-examination
that he does not know whether any polling officer was kidnapped. PW (9)
makes an interesting statement that he was forced to cast some votes for
the Indian National Congress.
6Page 7
10. Thereafter, the first respondent PW (10) went into the witness
box on 4.4.2010. In his examination in chief, he stated that he had sent a
fax message to the Returning Officer of 20-Tali (ST) Assembly
Constituency on 15.10.2009 alleging the booth capturing of 2-Ruhi and 7-
Roing polling stations. He stated that he had complained about the booth
capturing in 6 more polling stations, and produced copies of complaints.
He stated that there was single handed voting in favour of the appellant,
and first respondent’s voters were threatened and not allowed to cast
their votes. He further stated that a large number of voters had double
entries in the electoral roll of 20 Tali (ST) as well as Itanagar (ST)
Assembly Constituency. They had actually cast their votes at 38 different
polling stations of 13-(ST) Itanagar Assembly Constituency, and in their
place votes were cast in Tali Constituency by the miscreants of the
appellant. The electoral rolls of the two constituencies were to be
exhibited. He further pointed out that a vote was cast against a dead
person by name Markio Tama from 2-Ruhi polling station, and the death
certificate of the person concerned was produced.
11. The first respondent, in his cross examination on 9.6.2010,
accepted that he had not made any averments in the election petition
regarding double enrollment of the voters in the two Assembly
Constituencies. He accepted that he was aware that the final electoral
rolls were published by the authorities concerned before the election was
held, prior to which the draft roll was published for information of the
voters concerned, and that he did not lodge any complaint before the
7Page 8
authorities concerned about the double enrollment in the two
constituencies. He explained it by stating that he did not know that such
double enrollment had taken place. He could not say who actually cast
the vote for Markio Tama, who had already expired.
12. The first respondent accepted that he had appointed his
polling agents for all the polling stations. He knew about the duties of the
polling agents which included raising objection in case of detection of any
impersonation during the polling time, before the Presiding Officer
concerned by filling up a prescribed form alongwith a fee of Rs. 2/-. He
stated that his polling agents were not allowed to enter into the polling
booths, and the candidates appointed by the appellant acted as fake
polling agents for the first respondent. He however, accepted that he has
not stated in election petition that the candidates appointed by the
opposite party had acted as fake polling agents for him. He further
accepted that his complaint to the Returning Officer did not mention all
the 8 polling stations. It mentioned only about 2 polling stations. He also
accepted that he did not mention the names of persons involved in booth
capturing. He stated in his examination-in-chief itself as follows-
“I have no direct evidence regarding casting of votes by
impersonation by the booth capturing party but it can be
proved if the finger prints and thumb impression taken and
the signatures put in Form 17A of the respective polling
station are compared by the respective votes.”
13. The first respondent had alleged that in two polling stations
viz. Ruhi and Roing, booth capturing had taken place which was on the
basis that in Ruhi the first respondent got only 3 votes as against
8Page 9
appellant getting 697 votes, and in Roing he got only one vote as against
the appellant getting 1196 votes. On this aspect, it was put to him that
there were two circles in this constituency viz. Tali and Pipsorang. The
above two polling stations were in Tali Circle. The first respondent
accepted that the returned candidate secured no vote in 11-Vovia polling
station. He also accepted that the returned candidate secured only 7
votes in 13-Zara polling station, both falling in Pipsorang circle.
Thereafter, he accepted that
“It may be correct that securing less vote by a
candidate may be due to his less attachment to the people
of a particular area and it may also be the one of the
reasons for losing the election.”
The first respondent also accepted that Micro Observers were
appointed in all the polling stations and they were provided with digital
cameras for their use, as and when required during the election, for all
the purposes.
14. It was at that stage that the first respondent moved another
application viz. Misc. Case No. 05(AP) of 2010 on 29th June, 2010. In that
application he repeated that some of the voters of the 8 polling stations
mentioned earlier, had double entries in different 38 polling stations of 13
Itanagar (ST) Assembly Constituency. In para 2 he stated that 30% of
voters of Tali Constituency, from those 8 polling stations, had cast their
votes in Itanagar and not in Tali, and in their place the double voting was
effected on behalf of the appellant, and therefore it was necessary to get
the record of the voters’ counterfoils (in Form 17A) from the 38 polling
9Page 10
stations under 13-(ST) Itanagar Assembly Constituency. The appellant
opposed this application. The counsel for the appellant submitted that
this was a fishing inquiry to improve the case.
This time however, the
learned Judge observed:
“This allegation sounds to be new one, but when it is
closely examined, it also comes under the purview of
booth capturing because votes by impersonation is one of
the modus operandi adopted towards accomplishment of
securing votes by use of illegal method or illegal resource.”
15. The learned Judge referred to a judgment of this Court in Hari
Ram Vs. Hira Singh reported in AIR 1984 SC 396, that electoral rolls
and counter foils should be called sparingly, and only when sufficient
material is placed before the Court. He also referred to a judgment of this
Court in Fulena Singh Vs. Vijoy Kr. Sinha reported in 2009(5) SCC
290 wherein it was held that inspection of the record of register of voters
in Form 17-A would be permissible where a clear case is made out. The
learned Judge held that the official record would be the most reliable
evidence to decide as to whether there was impersonation, and thereafter
passed the order calling for the record of registers of voters’ counterfoils
in form 17A from 38 polling stations of 13-(ST) Itanagar Assembly
Constituency, which order was challenged by the appellant by filing one
SLP earlier.
16. This earlier petition was numbered as Civil Appeal No. 1539 of
2012 which came to be decided by this Court on 2.12.2012. It was
pointed out on behalf of the appellant that the Election Petition was filed
1Page 11
on the basis of corrupt practice of booth capturing, and what was being
canvassed on behalf of the respondent No. 1 was the allegation of
impersonation/double voting on the part of the appellant. It was
submitted on behalf of the appellant that booth capturing is a specific
corrupt practice under section 123 (8) read with section 135A of 1951 Act.
Booth capturing involves use of force, whereas impersonation or double
voting is on the basis of deception. This submission was accepted by this
Court. This was apart from the fact that impersonation or double voting
would lead to improper reception of votes, which is another ground for
declaring an election to be void under section 100 (1) (d) (iii) of the Act,
and this ground was not pleaded in the petition nor was any issue framed
thereon for trial. It was canvassed on behalf of the appellant that double
voting or impersonation could not be considered as facets of booth
capturing which was also accepted by this Court.
17. This Court while deciding Civil Appeal No. 1539 of 2012 noted
that there was hardly any evidence to justify any plea of impersonation or
double voting. Therefore, this Court held in the said appeal, that it was
thus obvious that having failed to place any material with respect to
either booth capturing or impersonation, the first respondent was trying
to make fishing and roving inquiry to improve his case by calling for the
record of the voters register from Itanagar Constituency, in support of his
grievance of double voting. In the absence of any evidence with respect
to the persons who, at the instance of the appellant, allegedly captured
the booths or made double voting or impersonation in Tali Constituency,
1Page 12
no such inference could have been drawn. The learned Single Judge,
therefore, was clearly in error in allowing the second application made by
the first respondent.
18. As seen from the above, the learned Judge while deciding
Misc. Case No.5(AP) of 2010 had relied upon the judgment of this court in
Fulena Singh (supra) to justify his direction to produce the record of
register of voters’ counterfoils in Form 17-A of 38 polling stations of 13-
(ST) Itanagar constituency. This court, therefore, while deciding Civil
Appeal 1539 of 2012 explained the judgment in Fulena Singh, and the
correct legal position with respect to the production of such records in
court. It referred to the Constitution Bench judgment of this court in Ram
Sevak Yadav v. Hussain Kamil Kidwai, reported in AIR 1964 SC
1249, which has held that an order for inspection cannot be granted as a
matter of course having regard to the secrecy of the ballot papers. To
seek such an order two conditions are required to be fulfilled:
(i) that the petition for setting aside an election contains an
adequate statement of the material facts on which the petitioner
relies in support of his case; and
(ii) the tribunal is prima facie satisfied that in order to decide the
dispute and to do complete justice between the parties inspection
of the ballot papers is necessary.
But an order for inspection of ballot papers cannot be made to support
vague pleas made in the petition, not supported by material facts, or to
1Page 13
fish out evidence to support such pleas. In the present case, there was no
material whatsoever to justify the production of the register of
counterfoils of votes in Form 17-A and therefore, this court allowed the
said Civil Appeal and dismissed Misc. Case (EP) No. 05 (AP) of 2010 by
judgment and order dated 2.2.2012
19. Facts which had come on record clearly showed that the first
respondent received overwhelming votes in some polling stations,
whereas the appellant received similarly overwhelming votes in other
polling stations. The first respondent had in fact accepted that it
depended on the popularity of the candidate whether he would receive
more votes in any particular voting station. Assuming that the ground of
improper reception of votes could be raised for declaring the election to
be void under section 100 (1) (d), this Court noted in the decision of C.A
No. 1539 of 2012 as follows:-
“28. Besides, the ground of improper reception
requires a candidate to show as to how the election in so
far as it concerns the returned candidate was materially
affected, in view of the requirement of Section 100 (1) (d)
of the Act of 1951. First respondent has stated that there
were some 1304 double entries of voters. The allegation
of respondent No.1 on evidence was only with respect to
Roing and Ruhi polling station. The votes received by the
appellant in both these polling stations put together
come to 1873. The appellant has won with a margin of
2713 votes. That being so the second application could
not have been entertained even on that ground in the
absence of prima facie case that the result of the election
had been materially affected.”
20. Therefore, this Court went into the issue as to whether the
record of the voters’ counterfoils in Form 17 (A) from 38 polling station of
1Page 14
13 Itanagar (ST) Assembly Constituency could be called. It examined the
relevant provisions of Rule 93 of Conduct of Elections rules, 1961 and the
judgments governing the field, and held in this matter also as in Ram
Sevak Yadav (supra), that an order for inspection of ballot papers could
not be granted to support the vague pleas made in the petition not
supported by material facts or to fish out the evidence to support such
pleas. This Court therefore, allowed that appeal and set aside the
judgment and order dated 14.9.2010 and dismissed Misc. Case No. 5
(AP)/2010 dated 29.6.2010. The judgment in Civil Appeal 1539 of 2012 in
Markio Tado Vs. Takam Sorang and Ors. is reported in 2012 (3) SCC
236.
21. In this background when the matter proceeded further there
was no occasion for the Court to once again call for that record. The
learned Judge still passed an order on 19.3.2012 on Misc. Case (EP) 06
(AP) of 2010 holding that:-
“it is considered expedient to send the registers of voters
(Form 17A) which were already procured from the District
Election Authority under sealed cover to the Director of
Regional Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL), Police Training
Centre, Banderdewa, Arunachal Pradesh requesting him to
conduct scientific examination and verification of
signatures/finger prints appearing in Form 17A and to ascertain
as to whether the thumb impression and signatures contained
and recorded in Form 17A (voters register) were put single
handedly and fraudulently by few persons as a measure of
impersonation of the genuine voters concerned and after such
scientific examination/verification to submit report to the
Registry of this Court is sealed cover within 3rd of May, 2012.
The registry was directed to take steps accordingly.
1Page 15
This order dated 19.3.2012 passed by the learned Judge was challenged
by the appellant by filing Special Leave Petition 12707 of 2012, by
pointing out that such an order could not be made in the teeth of the
judgment and order rendered by this Court in Civil Appeal No. 1539 of
2012. However, the appellant, preferred to withdraw the SLP No. 12707 of
2012 subsequently, with a liberty to agitate the questions raised therein,
if required, when the main Election Petition was decided.
22. The learned Judge proceeded to examine court witnesses
including finger print expert, CW3. Thereafter, the court examined the
defence witnesses, and after hearing the arguments of the counsel for
both the parties allowed the Election Petition, and held that the election of
the petitioner was void. On the basis of the calculations of votes made by
the learned judge, he held that the first respondent had received more
votes, and therefore, declared him as elected from the constituency
concerned. It is this order which is under challenge.
23. Now, as can be seen from the narration above, the Election
Petition was filed only on the ground of booth capturing. The respondent
No. 1 himself accepted that he could not name any person involved in the
act of booth capturing. The evidence on record clearly showed that, apart
from some allegations, there was no material evidence placed in support
thereof. The petitioner tried to claim impersonation and double voting as
a facet of booth capturing. This submission was already rejected by this
Court while deciding C.A No. 1539 of 2012 (supra) by holding that
1Page 16
impersonation and double voting would amount to deception and it will be
a facet of improper reception of votes and not booth capturing. Booth
capturing involves use of force and that was not established. The petition
was not filed on the ground of improper reception of votes. Even if that
ground was to be looked into, the respondent No. 1 accepted in his
evidence that he had no direct evidence regarding casting of votes by
impersonation.
24. The learned judge has clearly transgressed the limits of his
jurisdiction, by going into the exercise of calling for the handwriting and
finger print experts, and comparing the voters’ signatures and finger
prints with the help of the records in Form 17A, when that was clearly
held to be impermissible in the present case itself. This is apart from the
fact that this has resulted into a waste of the time of the Court, which is
so precious. The evidence was recorded on a number of dates and so
many witnesses, including public officers, were called when their evidence
was not required. It would be relevant to refer to the observations of this
Court in paragraph 12 of Azar Hussain v. Rajiv Gandhi reported in AIR
1986 SC 1253 in the context of rejecting an election petition summarily,
at the threshold, where such a case is not made out. The observations are
to the following effect,
“12. Learned counsel for the petitioner has next argued that
in any event the powers to reject an election petition summarily
under the provisions of the Code of Civil Procedure should not be
exercised at the threshold. In substance, the argument is that the
court must proceed with the trial, record the evidence, and only
after the trial of the election petition is concluded that the powers
1Page 17
under the Code of Civil Procedure for dealing appropriately with the
defective petition which does not disclose cause of action should be
exercised.
With respect to the learned counsel, it is an argument
which it is difficult to comprehend. The whole purpose of
conferment of such powers is to ensure that a litigation
which is meaningless and bound to prove abortive should
not be permitted to occupy the time of the court and
exercise the mind of the respondent. The sword of Damocles
need not be kept hanging over his head unnecessarily
without point or purpose. ………..”
(emphasis supplied)
25. The judge clearly ignored that the law declared by this Court
is binding on all courts within the territory of India under Article 141 of the Constitution of India, and judicial discipline required him to follow the mandate of the Constitution.
He entered into an impermissible exercise,
and deleted the votes received by the appellant which he considered to
be tainted votes.
It is quite shocking to see that the learned judge has
proceeded to delete the votes of the appellant from 8 polling stations,
although the grievance was only about Ruhi and Roing polling stations.
By making these deductions, he came to the conclusion that the
respondent No. 1 had received 826 votes more.
As can be seen from
paragraph 28 of the judgment, rendered in Civil Appeal No. 1539 of 2012,
that at best the case of the first respondent was that there were double
entries of voters in 1304 names.
The allegation was only with respect to
two polling stations. In those polling stations, the appellant had received
1873 votes.
Even if these 1304 votes were to be deleted, it would not
affect the result materially since the appellant had won with a margin of
2713 votes.
The learned judge, therefore, ignored that even if the ground
of improper reception of votes under section 100(1)(d)(iii) was to be
1Page 18
taken, the respondent no.1 had failed to establish that the result of the election of the appellant had been materially affected by such improper reception of votes. The decision of the learned judge was therefore
clearly flawed and untenable.
26. Thus, the learned judge went into the counterfoils of the
voters inspite of the fact that this court had already ruled in the judgment in C.A. 1539 of 2010, that in the facts of the present case, no case was made out for calling of the counterfoils.
It is not that he was unaware of
the judgment rendered by this court. He referred to this judgment in Para
9(i) by stating that CA No. 1539 of 2010 was preferred against his
judgment and order dated 14.9.2010.
Thereafter, he specifically noted
“the said Civil Appeal was allowed vide judgment and order dt. 2.2.2012
dismissing the aforesaid M.C. (EP) No. 5 (AP) of 2010 under Section 83(1)
of the R.P. Act as reported in (2012) 3 SCC 236.”
Thereafter, however he
proceeded to act exactly contrary to the direction emanating from the
dismissal of M.C. (EP) No. 5 (AP) of 2010, which amounts to nothing but
judicial indiscipline and disregard to the mandate of Article 141 of the
Constitution of India.
This is shocking, to say the least, and most
unbecoming of a judge holding a high position such as that of a High
Court Judge. We fail to see as to what made the judge act in such a
manner, though we refrain from going into that aspect.
27. Before we conclude, we may state that it is unfortunate that
such acts of judicial impropriety are repeated inspite of clear judgments of
1Page 19
this court on the significance of Article 141 of the Constitution. Thus, in a
judgment by a bench of three judges in Dwarikesh Sugar Industries
Ltd. v. Prem Heavy Engineering Works (P) Ltd. and Anr., reported
in (1997) 6 SCC 450, this court observed,
“32. When a position, in law, is well settled as a result of
judicial pronouncement of this Court, it would amount to judicial
impropriety to say the least, for the subordinate courts including
the High Courts to ignore the settled decisions and then to pass a
judicial order which is clearly contrary to the settled legal position.
Such judicial adventurism cannot be permitted and we strongly
deprecate the tendency of the subordinate courts in not applying
the settled principles and in passing whimsical orders which
necessarily has the effect of granting wrongful and unwarranted
relief to one of the parties. It is time that this tendency stops.”
We may as well refer to Para 28 of the State of West Bengal & Ors. v.
Shivanand Pathak and Ors., reported in (1998) 5 SCC 513, wherein
this court observed,
“If a judgment is overruled by the higher court, the judicial
discipline requires that the judge whose judgment is overruled must
submit to the judgment. He cannot, in the same proceedings or in
collateral proceedings between the same parties, rewrite the
overruled judgment…”
28. In the circumstances, we have no option but to allow this
appeal and set aside the impugned judgment and order rendered by the
learned judge of Gauhati High Court dated 12.11.2012. The Election
Petition filed by the respondent no. 1, bearing Election Petition No. 1(AP)
of 2009, renumbered as Election Petition No. 1 (AP) of 2012, shall stand
dismissed. The parties will bear their own costs.
1Page 20
…………..
……………………..J.
( G.S. Singhvi )
………………………………….
.J.
( H.L. Gokhale )
New Delhi
Dated: May 10, 2013
2
