VINOD K.SHARMA, J. - (1.) THE petitioner, who is District President of Shiromani Akali Dal Badal (Youth Wing), District Ropar, (hereinafter referred to as 'SADB') was elected as Member of Panchayat Samiti, Ropar in the election held in June 2002 on party symbol of SADB.
(2.) IT is the case of the petitioner that against the 17 elected members of Block Samiti, Ropar, eight members including the petitioner belonged to SADB and the remaining nine members belonged to the Congress Party which is in power in the State of Punjab. It is the further case of the petitioner that Bibi Satwant Kaur Sandhu, MLA Chamkaur Sahib, is also ex officio member of the Block Samiti, who also belonged to SADB and, therefore, was to support the Akali Dal candidates for the election of Chairman and Vice chairman of Block Samiti. The petitioner was in race for the office of Chairman, Block Samiti, Ropar in the election which was fixed for 28th of January, 2003. It is averred in the writ petition that the petitioner was also a contestant for election to the office of Zila Parishad which was to be held in near future. It is the further case of the petitioner that SDM-cum-Returning Officer issued a notice under Rule 45(1) of the Punjab Panchayat Election Rules, 1994 to the effect that a special meeting of Panchayat Samiti would be held at Zila Parishad Office, Ropar on 28.1.2003 at 3.30 p.m. for the elections of Chairman and Vice Chairman and the petitioner was asked to attend the same.
(3.) IT is also the case of the petitioner that on 28.1.2003 the petitioner along with other elected members of the SADB came present in the office of Zila Parishad, Ropar, for participating in the election for the office of Chairman and Vice Chairman, Panchayat Samiti, Ropar. It is the further case of the petitioner that nine members belonging to Congress Party did not attend the meeting on 28.1.2003. Thus the meeting was postponed for want of coram.;