ARUN YADAV Vs. MP RAJYA NIRVACHAN AYOG

JUDGEMENT

(1.) As common questions are involved in these three petitions are with regard to conducting elections to the Panchayats, all these petitions are being heard analogously. For the sake of convenience, pleadings and documents available in the record of Writ Petition No. 22/2015 are being referred to in this order.

(2.) Challenging the Notifications - Annexures P/1, P/3 and P/4 dated 15.12.2014, 20.12.2014 and 24.12.2014, issued by the MP State Election Commission in the matter of conducting elections to the Gram Panchayat, Janpad Panchayat and Zila Panchayat in the State of Madhya Pradesh in three phases, on various dates as are indicated therein, all these writ petitions have been filed.

(3.) During the course of hearing of the matter, the only grievance pointed out by learned counsel for the petitioners were with regard to counting of votes for the elections to the Zila Panchayat that has been held on 13.1.2015. It is the case of the petitioners that initially the elections to the Panchayats in the State of Madhya Pradesh was notified by the State Election Commission on 15.12.2014, and a three phase election programme vide Annexure P/1 was notified. It is stated that the manner in which the election programme has been notified indicates that polling for electing members of the Janpad Panchayat and the Zila Panchayat of a single District are not being completed in a single phase. It is being spread over in two or three different phases. It is stated that the petitioners, including the petitioner in Writ Petition No. 22/2015, who happens to be the State President of a political party namely - MP Congress Committee, objected to the manner in which the election was to be conducted in these phases and submitted a representation on 19.12.2014 vide Annexure P/2. Accordingly, an amended notification - Annexure P/3 was issued on 20.12.2014, curing various defects that were pointed out by the petitioners. Subsequently, another notification - Annexure P/4 has been issued on 24.12.2014, again making certain further amendments in the election process to be held.