Varkala Kahar’s election invalid: Court

Aug 22, 2012 |

Kochi

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Varkala Kahar

In an unexpected shock to the UDF, ruling the state with a narrow assembly majority, the Kerala high court on Tuesday nullified the election of Congress nominee Varkala Kahar from the Varkala assembly constituency.

Justice S.S. Satheesachandran set aside the election while considering an election petition filed by Bahujan Samajwadi Party candidate S. Prahladan who challenged the returning officer’s decision to reject his nomination paper.

The returning officer (RO) rejected the nomination after finding that stamps of required value had not been affixed in one of the affidavits submitted by Prahladan. The court held that the RO’s rejection of the petitioner’s nomination was improper. The reason for the rejection -- non-fixing of stamp for notarisation -- was unsustainable, it said.

The court pointed out that as per the People’s Representation Act, the RO should not reject any nomination paper on the ground of a defect that was not of a substantial nature. “The scrutiny of papers is a quasi judicial function and it has to be discharged by the RO with highest judicial standards,” the court said.

The court passed the order in the morning and Kahar immediately field a plea seeking to stay the order. Thereon, the court suspended the order for a period of one month, permitting him to move Supreme Court to challenge the order.

However, the court imposed conditions and asked Kahar not to participate in any deliberation. He should not also participate in voting. But the court permitted him to attend assembly and draw the
fee and other perks due to him as an MLA,”

According to the petitioner, he had submitted two nomination papers to contest the election. There were two affidavits attached to Form No.26 and both affidavits were attested by the notary public. But, by mistake, the notary stamp was affixed only on one affidavit, Prahladan said.

The petitioner argued that at the time of scrutiny, he sought the RO’s permission to affix the stamp and rectify the defect, but the RO refused to do so.

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