M. Katju, J. - (1.) This petition has been filed against the impugned, order dated 26-7-1996 (Annexure-5 to the Writ Petition) by which the respondent No. 2 has rejected the objection of the petitioner that respondent No. 2 has no jurisdiction to decide the case. The facts of the case are that the petitioner was elected as Pramukh of Chhetra Panchayat, Khatauli. An election petition was filed against him by the respondent No. 3 before the District Judge, who has transferred the election petition to the respondent No. 2, Vth Addl. District Judge, Muzaffanagar. The objection of the petitioner was that the Vth Addl. District Judge has no jurisdiction to try the election petition. Since, this objection was rejected this petition has been filed.
(2.) Section 2 (24) of the U.P. Kshettra Panchayats and Zila Panchatats Adhiniyam, 1961 states "Judge" means the District Judge and includes any other subordinate civil judicial officer named or designated by the District Judge in this behalf'. Learned Counsel for the petitioner urged that the Addl. District Judge is not subordinate to the District Judge. I am not in agreement with this contention. In my opinion, all the Civil Judicial Officers, i.e. Addl. District Judge, Civil Judge and Munsif etc. are subordinate to the District Judge for the purpose of Section 2(24). Thus the District Judge can validly transfer the election petition to respondent No. 2. The petition is dismissed. Petition dismissed.;