Holding

The Supreme Court held that the High Court acted within its jurisdiction, that two affidavits were filed on the petition date and the affidavit at pages 394‑395 complied with Form 25, and therefore the returned candidate’s objections failed.

Summary

The case concerned an election petition filed by Sharadendu Tiwari challenging the election of Ajay Arjun Singh. The dispute centered on whether the petition was accompanied by an affidavit in the statutory Form 25 as required by the proviso to Section 83(1)(c) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, and whether one or two affidavits had been filed. The Madhya Pradesh High Court initially held that the affidavit was not in Form 25 but directed the petitioner to file a fresh one; it later clarified that two affidavits had indeed been filed on the petition date and that the Form 25 affidavit complied with the statute. The returned candidate argued that the clarification order was beyond the High Court’s jurisdiction under Rule 13(2) of its Rules and that the earlier finding barred any later challenge. The Supreme Court held that the High Court’s jurisdiction under Section 80A(2) of the RP Act superseded the rule, that two affidavits were filed and the Form 25 affidavit was valid, and that the returned candidate’s objections were untenable. Consequently, the returned candidate’s appeals were dismissed and the election petitioner’s appeal was allowed.

Issues considered

Whether the election petition was accompanied by an affidavit in Form 25 as required by the proviso to Section 83(1)(c) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951.
Whether one or two affidavits were filed along with the election petition.
Whether the High Court’s clarification order (IA No. 11665/2015) suffered from lack of jurisdiction under Rule 13(2) of the Madhya Pradesh High Court Rules, 2008.
Whether the defect of non‑Form 25 affidavit was curable and whether filing a fresh affidavit precludes the petitioner from challenging the earlier finding.
Whether the absence of the Registrar’s signature on the affidavit pages renders the affidavit invalid.
Whether the High Court’s findings are barred by the doctrine of res judicata or other principles of finality.

Legislation cited

Code of Civil Procedure, 1908s. Order VII Rule 11, s. Order VI Rule 15(4), s. Section 11
Conduct of Election Rules, 1961s. Form 25, s. Rule 94A
Constitution of Indias. Article 225
Representation of the People Act, 1951s. 11, s. 80A(2), s. 83(1)(c), s. 86

Subjects

Election petitionAffidavit complianceForm 25Representation of the People ActHigh Court jurisdictionRule 13(2) of High Court RulesRes judicataCPC Order VII Rule 11Article 225

Judgment

[2016] 4 S.C.R. 555

AJAY ARJUN SlNGH A
v.
SHARADENDU TIWARI & OTHERS
(Civil Appeal No. 2697 of2016)
MARCH 15, 2016 B

[J. CHELAMESWAR AND ABBAY MANOHAR SAPRE, JJ.]
Representation of the People Act, 1951 - s.83(l){c) proviso
rlw. Order VI Rule 15(4) of CPC - Interlocutory application under
Order VIL Rule 11 CPC - Filed in Election petition - By the returned c
candidate seeking dismissal of petition on the ground interalia that
the affidavit filed alongwith the petition was no.t in conformity with
Form 25 of the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961 - Election petitioner
mentioned in his reply that the affidavit in Form 25 was to be found
at pages 394 and 395 of the petition and asserted that he filed two
affidavits with the petition - The High Court- held that though the D
petitioner had not filed the affidavit in Form-25, but the defect was
curable and hence directed the petitioner to file an affidavit in Form
25 - Election Petitioner filed the affidavit as directed - Review
petition by the returned candidate against the order of High Court
was dismissed ..:.. Two appeals filed by the returned candidate in this E
Court - The election petitioner also filed appeal challenging the
finding that affidavit in Form 25 was not filed - This Court
adjourned the matter in order to enable the parties to seek a
clarification as to whether there was one or two affidavits filed
alongwith the petition - Application for the clarification order filed
in High Court - High Court clarified that two affidavits were filed F
alongwith the election petition - Returned candidate filed another
appeal to this Court challenging the clarification order - On the
ground that the order suffered from lack of jurisdiction being in
contravention of r. 13(2) of High Court of Madhya Pradesh Rules,
2008 - Held: The clarification order of High Court did not suffer G
from lack ofjurisdiction as the order was in conformity with s.80A(2)
of the Representation of the People Act - Stipulation u/r. 13(2) is
contrary to stipulation u/s. 80A(2) - As per Art. 225 of the
Constitution (under which High Court Rules were made) any Rule
shall be subject to the law, made by appropriate Legislature - It is
proved that the election petition was accompanied by an affidavit H
555
556 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2016] 4 S.C.R.

A in Form 25 in compliance with the requirement of statute under
proviso to s.83(l)(c) - Conduct of Election Rules, 1961 - Form 25
- Constitution of India - Art. 225 - High Court of Madhya Pradesh
Rules, 2008 - Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 - Or. VIL r. 11.
Dismissing the appeals filed by the returned candidate and
B allowing that of the election petitioner, the Court
HELD: 1. Election petitions deal with the basic rights of
the citizenry of this country. Election is a "politically sacred" event
and an election dispute is too serious a matter to be dealt with
. casually. Therefore, the Parliament thought it fit to entrust the
c adjudication of election disputes to the High Courts. The High
Court chose to deal with the matter casually. The result is that a
finding that there was no affidavit in the Form No.25 came to be
recorded without recording any finding regarding the existence
or otherwise of the affidavit which is said to have been annexed
in the election petition at page nos.394 and 395 nor its content.
D Since the Interlocutory Application was dismissed, the election
petitioner had neither a reason nor the necessity to challenge
the correctness of the findings recorded in the order as the
decision is in his favour. [Para 20) [567-C-E]
2.1 According to the returned candidate, I.A. No.11665 of
E 2015 (seeking clarification from the High Court) ought to have
been heard .by a Division Bench because of the stipulation
contained in Rule 13(2) of the High Court of Madhya Pradesh
Rules, 2008. The said Rule stipulates that any application seeking
clarifications of an earlier order of the Court passed by a Judge,
F who retired thereafter, ought to be heard by a Division Bench
and the Judge who passed the order in the OR VII R 11 petition
retired subsequently. This preliminary objection raised by the
returned candidate is not acceptable. [Paras 29 and 31) [570-F-
G; 571-A; 572-A-B)

G 2.2 The adjudication of election petitions including the
examination of all incidental questions in interlocutory
proceedings arising during the course of the adjudication of the
election petition is entrusted by Section 80A of the Representation
of People Act, 1951 to the High Court within whose jurisdiction
the election dispute arises. Section 80A(2) stipulates that the
H
AJAY ARJUN SINGH v. SHARADENDU TIWARI & OTHERS 557

jurisdiction shall be exercised ordinarily by a Single Judge who A
is to be designated by the Chief Justice, Though the said Section
indicates that the Chief Justice has a discretion to entrust trial of
an election petition to a Bench consisting of more than one judges,
such a discretion is to be exercised by the Chief Justice alone.
(Para 31) (572-B-D]
B
2.3 The Rules of the High Court are framed by the High
Court pursuant to the power vested in it under Article 225. The
exercise of such power is subject to the provisions of the
Constitution and the "provisions of any law of the appropriate
legislature". Rule 13 mandates the listing of certain matters
(nature of which is described therein) before a Division Bench. c
Such stipulation is contrary to the stipulation of Section 80A(2)
that election petitions are to be tried by a single judge of the
High Court leaving a discretion in the Chief Justice to decide
whether in a given case, _an election petition shall be heard by
more than one Judge. Such a statutory discretion vested in the D
Chief Justice of the High Court cannot be curtailed by a rule
made as the High Court in view of the clear declaration by the
Constitution (in the opening clause of Article 225) that "any rule
shall be subject to the law made by the appropriate legislature".
[Para 31] (572-E; 573-A-C]
E
3. The plea of the returned candidate that the subsequent
and conflicting finding of the High Court dated 29.9.2015 is not
legally tenable, as at the earliest point of time, the High Court in
its order dated 25.08.2014 recorded a finding that the election
petitioner did not file the affidavit in the prescribed Form 25.
The plea, if at all is based on any legal principle, it is based either F
on the doctrine of res judicata or some principle analogous to it
based on public policy that there must be finality to the judicial
orders. Even if the principle of res judicata is invoked, what is
barred under s.11 of CPC is the adjudication of an issue which
was directly and substantially in issue in a former suit between G
the same parties and has been heard and finally decided. Hence
the plea is rejected. [Paras 35(1), 37(i)] (574-C; 576-E-F]
4. It cannot be said that the election petitioner is precluded
from' contending at a later stage that the finding recorded by the ·
High Court in its order dated 25.08.2014 is incorrect, as having . H
558 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2016] 4 S.C.R.

A complied with the consequential direction of filing afresh affidavit
in Form 25, without challenging the correctness of the finding
that he failed to file an affidavit in Form 25 along with the election
petition. The question whether two affidavits were filed along
with the Election petition though was not directly in issue as the
returned candidate never filed a rejoinder (to the reply of the
B
election petitioner wherein it was stated that he had filed two
affidavits alongwith the election petition). In deciding the OR
VII R 11 petition the High Court never examined the question
(it is an issue of fact) whether there were two affidavits as pleaded
by the election petitioner in his reply to the said petition. The
c order in OR VII R 11 petition is too casual. It does not take note
of either the facts in issue or identify the point to be decided. Any
finding of fact recorded in such circumstances is required to be
set aside if appealed against by the aggrieved party if such an
order is an appealable order. Since the High Court dismissed the
OR VII R 11 petition though the finding is adverse to the election
D
petitioner, he need not have filed an appeal. [Paras 35(II), 37(ii))
(574-D-E; 576-G-H; 577-A-B)
5.1 The failure of the Registrar to comply with the
requirement of Rule 6(4) is sought to be explained by the High
Court by saying that such a lapse occurred probably because
E nobody pointed out to the Registrar regarding the existence of
... affidavit at page nos.394-395. Rule 6(4) casts a mandatory duty
on the Registrar to sign on each page of the election petition and
also the affidavit filed along with the election petition. Such a
mandatory duty must be performed irrespective of the fact
F whether somebody points out to the Registrar or not regarding
the existence of the affidavit. However, the non-compliance of
the rule by the Registrar is not fatal to the election petition,
because it is the settled proposition of law that the act or omission
of the Court shall not harm any party. [Para 37(c, d)) (579-E-G]
5.2 But when the question is whether such an affidavit was
G
filed along with the election petition on 20.0l.2014, different
considerations arise. The question whether the election petitioner
filed the 2nd affidavit is a pure question of fact. The burden of
proving such a fact in law is on the election petitioner if such a
question is really in issue. However, such a question was never
H in issue in OR VII R 11 petition. [Para 37(e)] (579-H; 580-A-B)
AJAY ARJUN SINGH v. SHARADENDU TlWARl & OTHERS 559

5.3 The objection of the returned candidate in OR VII R 11 A
petition was only that the "affidavit sworn and filed along with the
petition by the petitioner is not in conformity with Form 25 of the
Conduct Rules, 1961." Thus, the returned candidate's objection
is only regarding the format and content of the affidavit but not
regarding the date of the filing of the affidavit, on the other hand,
B
the employment of the expression "along with" clearly indicates
that the returned candidate also at that point of time accepted
that the affidavit at page nos.394-395 was presented on the same
date i.e. 20.1.2014. Therefore, the question of proof of the fact
which was never in issue does not arise much less the question
of burden of proof. [Para 39] [580-F-G] c
6. The fact that the election petitioner chose to file yet
another affidavit pursuant to the order dated 25.8.2014 is another
circumstance sought to be relied upon by the returned candidate
in support of his submission that there was no second affidavit
filed along with the election petition. The dispute on hand is D
regarding the existence of a fact which was never in issue in OR
VII R 11 petition. The returned candidate cannot shift his case
from stage to stage. He cannot now be permitted to raise such a
question of fact in the absence of an appropriate pleading and
contend that the election petitioner is precluded from arguing
that he had filed a 2nd affidavit along with the election petition by E
pressing into service a rule of estoppel. [Paras 40, 43] [580-H;
581-A, F-G]
State of Punjab & Others v. Krishan Niwas 1997 (2)
SCR 1135 : (1997) 9 SCC 31; Banku Chandra Bose
& Another v. Marium Begum & Another, AIR 1917 Cal. F
546 - held inapplicable.
P.A. Mohammed Riyas v. MK. Raghavan & Others 2012
(4) SCR 56 : (2012) 5 SCC 511; GM. Siddeshwar v.
Prasanna Kumar 2013 (4) SCR 1107 : (2013) 4 SCC
776; Harvinder Singh v. Paramjit Singh (2013) 9 SCC G
261: 2013 (1) SCR 903 - referred to.
Case Law Reference
2012 (4) SCR 56 referred to Para 17
2013 (4) SCR 1107 referred to Para 18 H
560 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2016] 4 S.C.R.

A 2013 (1) SCR 903 referred to Para 37(iii)
1997 (2) SCR 1135 held inapplicable Para 42
AIR 1917 Cal. 546 held inapplicable Para 42
CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION : Civil Appeal No. 2697
B of2016.
From the Judgment and Order dated 25.08.2014 of the High Court
of Madhya Pradesh Principal Seat at Jabalpur in I. A. No. 43 of2014 in
Election Petition No. I of2014
WITH
c C. A. Nos.'2699, 2700 and 2701 of2016
P. P. Rao, Salman Khurshid, Naman Nagrath Sr. Advs., Navin
Prakash, Anshuman Shrivastava, Pulkit Tare, Ms. Meetu Singh,
Swarnendu Chatterjee, Vikramaditya Singh, Ms. Ananya Sarkar, M. P.
Srivignesh, Vikas Upadhyay, Prakash Upadhyay, Nitin Gaur, Kaustubh
D
Anshuraj, Ishit Saharia, Advs. for the appearing parties.
The Judgment of the Court was delivered by
CHELAMESWAR, J. I. Leave granted.
2. General elections to the legislative assembly of Madhya Pradesh
E took place in the year 2013. On 8.12.2013, one Shri Ajay Arjun Singh
(hereinafter referred to as the RETURNED CANDIDATE) was
declared elected as a member of legislative assembly from 76 Churhat
Assembly Constituency in the said election. On 20th January, 2014,
challenging the declaration of said Ajay Arjun Singh, one of the contesting
F candidates Sharadendu Tiwari (hereinafter referred to as 'the
"ELECTION PETITIONER') filed an Election Petition No.I of2014
before the High Court of Madhya Pradesh.
3. The election of the RETURNED CANDIDATE was
challenged on the grounds that the RETURNED CANDIDATE is guilty
G of commission of two corrupt practices falling under sub-sections (I)
and ( 6) of Section 123 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951
(hereinafter referred to as 'the RP Act'), i.e. (I) making appeal to the
voters in the name of religion and bribery; and (2) incurring el'penditure
in confravention of Section 77 of the RP Act respectiyely.
4. Notice to the respondents in the Election Petition was ordered
H
AJAY ARJUN SINGH v. SHARADENDU TIWARI & OTHERS 561
[CHELAMESWAR, J.]

on 10th February, 2014. The RETURNED CANDIDATE was served 1 A
with the said notice on 18.6.2014. Admittedly, the election petition and
all the annexures thereto were served on the RETURNED
CANDIDATE on his appearance in the Court on 18.6.2014.
5. On 1st July, 2014, the RETURNED CANDIDATE filed I.A.
No.43 of2014 invoking Order VII Rule 11 ofCPC (hereinafter referred B
to as "OR VII R 11 petition") praying that the .Election Petition be
dismissed on the ground that it does not disclose a cause of action. The
said petition was dismissed by order of the High Court dated 25.8.2014.
Aggrieved by the dismissal of OR VII R 11 petition, the RETURNED
CANDIDATE filed an application for review (I.A. No.13575/2015 -
hereinafter referred to as the "Review Petition"), which was also C
dismissed by the High Court by an order dated 18.3.2015.
6. Therefore, the RETURNED CANDIDATE filed SLPs
No.33933/2014 and 11096/2015 aggrieved by orders dated 25.8.2014
and 18.3.2015 respectively.
7. Aggrieved by certain findings recorded by the High Court (the D
details of which will be considered later) in the order dated 18.3.2015 in
the Review Petition, the ELECTION PETITIONER preferred SLP
No.15361/2015.
8. To adjudicate the correctness of the various impugned orders,.
an examination of the issues which fell for the consideration. of the High E
Court is required to be identified.
9. The prayer in the OR VII R 11 petition filed by the RETURNED
CANDIDATE is as follows:
"It is, therefore, prayed that the present election petition be
dismissed." F
(i) Para 8 of the OR VII R 11 petition reads as follows:
"That, besides the above, affidavit sworn and filed along with the
petition by the petitioner is not in conformity with Form 25 of the
Conduct of Election Rules, 1961. The name of the corrupt practice
has not been specified which is required to be specifically stated G
in the affidavit prescribed under Form No.25. The affidavit which
1
Admittedly the RETURNED CANDIDATE could not be served with the summons
in the normal course by the High Court. He appeared in the High Court (admittedly)
pursuant to the substituted service (paper publication). The RETURNED
CANDIDATE has an explanation for the same. The truth of the explanation is not in
issue. H
562 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2016] 4 S.C.R.

A the petitioner has filed is thus defective and, therefore, the petition
deserves to be dismissed."
(ii) Para 13 of the said petition states:
"That, for the aforesaid reasons, the present election petition is
liable to be dismissed as the as do not disclose any cause of cause
B of action."
Giving some allowance to the clerical errors, we presume that the
RETURNED CANDIDATE prayed that the Election Petition be
dismissed on the ground that it does not disclose any-cause of action.
In other words, the RETURNED CANDIDATE prayed that the
Election petition be dismissed for two reasons:
c
(i) that the affidavit filed along with the Election petition is not
in conformity with Form 25 of the Conduct of Election Rules,
1961; and
(ii) that the Election petition does not disclose any cause of
action.
D They are two distinct grounds.
10. In response to the said application (OR VII R 11 petition), the
ELECTION PETITIONER filed a reply dated 11.07.2014. It is stated
in para 6 therein as follows:
"6. That, the third objection which respondent no. I /returned
E candidate has raised with respect to the non filing of the affidavit
inconformity of the Form 25 of the Conduct of Election Rules,
1961. The petitioner has filed the said affidavit along with
the election petition which is attached at page no.394 and
395 of the election petition and also found mention at serial
F no.57-A in the index filed along with the election petition. Since
the petitioner has also filed affidavit in support of the election
petition and has also filed the affidavit in prescribed format,
therefore, there is no defect in this regard. Though, the petitioner
respectfully submits that the petition and the affidavit is in proper
order but if in the opinion of the court if there is any defect, the
G election petitioner is willing to cure the same."
11. It can be seen from the above that the ELECTION
PETITIONER clearly mentioned about the filing of an affidavit in form
25 which is to be found at page nos.394 and 395 of the election petition
and also mentioned at serial no.57-A in the index to the election petition.
H Though not very elegantly pleaded, the ELECTION PETITIONER did
AJAY ARJUN SINGH v. SHARADENDU TIWARI & OTHERS 563
[CHELAMESWAR, J.]

assert the fact that he had filed two affidavits along with the election A
petition".
12. It can be seen from the above that the ELECTION
PETITIONER has also made a submission that "ifin the opinion of the
Court ifthere is any defect, the ELECTION PETITIONER is willing to
cure the same". Such a statement appears to have been made by way
B
of abundant caution in a bid to save the election petition from being
dismissed on the ground of non-compliance with the proviso to Section
83 (1) in the event of the High Court reaching the conclusion that the
affidavit filed by the ELECTION PETITIONER along with the election
petition is not in fact compliant with the requirement of law.
13. The High Court, by its order dated 25.8.2014 while dismissing c
OR VII R 11 petition recorded:
"In the instant case, the petitioner has not filed the affidavit in the
prescribed Form 25 in accordance with Rule 94-A of the Conduct
of Election Rules, 1961. Since aforesaid defect is curable, same
can be cured by filing affidavit in the prescribed Form 25." D
The High Court further directed:
"the petitioner is directed to file an affidavit in Form 25 within 15
days from the date of receipt of certified copy of the order."
Pursuant to this order, admittedly an affidavit was filed by the
ELECTION PETITIONER on 31.08.2014. E
14. To understand the controversy in these appeals, an analysis
of the provisions of the RP Act is required. Section 83 3 of the RP Act
2
Para 6 of reply to the IA No.43 of2014
" ... Since the petitioner has also filed affidavit in support of the election petition and
has also tiled an affidavit in the prescribed format, therefore, there is no defect in this F
regard ...."
3
"Section 83. Contents of petition.-( I) An election petition-
( a) Shall contain a concise statement of the material facts on which the petitioner
relies;
(b) Shall set forth full particulars of any corrupt practice that the petitioneralleges,
including as full a statement as possible of the names of the parties alleged to G
have committed such corrupt practice and the date and place of the commission
of each such practice; and
(c) Shall be signed by the petitioner and verified in the manner laid down in the
Code of Civil Procedure. 1908 (5of1908) for the verification of pleadings:
Provided that where the petitioner alleges any corrupt practice. the petition
shall also be accompanied by an affidavit in the prescribed form in support of the
allegation of such corrupt practice and the particulars thereof. H
564 SUPREME COURT REPORTS (2016] 4 S.C.R.

A stipulates what is required to be contained in an election petition. Section
83( I)(c) requires every election petition to be verified in the manner laid
down in the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908. Order VI Rule 15 of the
Code deals with the verification of the pleadings•. Sub-rule 4; stipulates
that the person verifying the pleadings shall also furnish an affidavit in
support of such pleadings.
B
15. An election petition challenging the validity of an election can
be filed on any one of the various grounds specified under Section I 00
of the RP Act. The commission of a corrupt practice either by the
"returned candidate or his election agent or by any other person with the
consent of either the returned candidate or his agent" is one of the several
c grounds on which the High Court can declare the result of a returned
candidate to be void. The election of a returned candidate can also be
set aside on the ground of the commission of corrupt practice "in the
interest of the returned candidate by an agent other than his election
agent" and by virtue of such corrupt practice "the result of the election,
D insofar as it concerns a returned candidate, has been materially affected".
In either case, in view of the stipulation contained in proviso to Section
83(1) RP Act, the election petition is required to be accompanied by an
affidavit in the prescribed form.
16. In exercise of the power under Section 169 of the RP Act,
E the Representation of the People (Conduct of Elections and Election
Petitions) Rules, 1956 have been framed by the Government of India.
Rule 94A prescribes as follows:
"Rule 94A. Form of affidavit to be filed with election

(2) Any schedule or annexure to the petition shall also be signed by the petitioner
F and verified in the same manner as the petition.
•Order VI Rule 15. Verification of pleadings.- (I) Saye as otherwise pro\'ided by
any law for the time being in force, every pleading shall be verified at the foot by the
party or by one of the parties pleading or by some other person proved to the satisfaction
of the court to be acquainted with the facts of the case.
(2) The person verifying shall specify, by reference to the numbered paragraphs of
G the pleading, what he verifies ofhis own knowledge and what he verifies upon information
received and believed to be true.
(3) The \'erification shall be signed by the person making it and shall state the date
on which and the place at which it was signed.
(4) The person verifying the pleading shall also furnish an affidavit in support
of his pleadings.

H ' Sub-rule (4) came to be inserted to the Code by Act 46 of 1999
AJAY ARJUN SINGH v. SHARADENDU TIWARI & OTHERS 565
[CHELAMESWAR, J.]

petition.- The affidavit referred to in the proviso to sub-section A
( 1) of section 83 shall be sworn before a magistrate of the first
class or a notary or a commissioner of oaths and shall be in Form
25."
Form 25 also indicates the layout of the affidavit. The requirement
of giving such affidavit where there are allegations of commission of B
corrupt practice in an election petition came to be inserted in the Act by
virtue of an amendment in the year 1962.
17. The question whether an election petition challenging the
election of a returned candidate on the ground of corrupt practice is
required to be accompanied either by one affidavit or two affidavits in c
view of the insertion of clause (4) of Rule 15 of Order VI, fell for
consideration of this Court in P.A. Mohammed Riyas v. M.K. Ra1:llavan
& Others, (2012) 5 SCC 511 and this Court held tJms:
"45 .... We are also unable to accept Mr Venugopal's submission
that even in a case where the proviso to Section 83( 1) was D
attracted, a single affidavit would be sufficient to satisfy the
requirements of both the provisions."
18. Subsequently, the same question again fell for consideration
before a larger bench of this Court in GM. Siddesllwar v. Prasanna
Kumar, (2013) 4 SCC 776. The court disapproved the view taken in E
Mohammed Riyas case and held:
"1. ... The principal question oflaw raised for our consideration
is whether, to maintain an election petition, it is imperative for an
election petitioner to file an affidavit in terms of Order 6 Rule
15(4) of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 in support of the
F
averments made in the election petition in addition to an affidavit
(in a case where resort to corrupt practices have been alleged
against the returned candidate) as required by_the proviso to Section
83(1) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951. In our opinion,
there is no such mandate in the Representation of the People Act,
1951 and a reading of P.A. Moha111111ed Riyas" MK. Raghavan G
which suggests to the contrary, does not lay down correct law to
this limited extent.
30. In any event, as in the present case, the same result has been
achieved by the election petitioner by filing a composite affidavit,
both in support of the averments made in the election petition and H
566 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2016] 4 S.C.R.

A with regard to the allegations of corrupt practices by the returned
candidate. This procedure is not contrary to law and cannot be
faulted. Such a composite affidavit would not only be in substantial
compliance with the requirements of the Act but would actually
be in full compliance thereof. The filing of two affidavits is not
warranted by the Act nor is it necessary, especially when a
B
composite affidavit can achieve the desired result."
19. The issue before this Court in this batch ofappeals is whether
the election petition was accompanied by an affidavit which is compliant
with the requirement of statute under the proviso to Section 83(l)(c).
Foranswering the issue, it is incidentally necessary to determine whether
c the ELECTION PETITIONER filed two affidavits along with the election
petition to satisfy the requirement of the law.
20. Unfortunately, the High Court did not examine, when it passed
the orders dated 25.08.2014 or 18.03.2015, the question whether there
were two affidavits filed by the ELECTION PETITIONER along with
D the election petition and whether the affidavit said to have been annexed
to the election petition at page nos.394-395 is compliant with the
requirement of stipulations under proviso to Section 83( 1). At para 5 of
the order dated 25.08.2014, the High Court recorded as follows:
"5. So far as the contention with respect to verification or
E affidavit is concerned, it has been laid down by the Apex Court
G.M. Siddeshwar v. Prasanna Kumar, AIR 2013 SC 1549 that
absolute compliance of format affidavit is not necessary.
Substantial compliance with format prescribed is sufficient. In
case there is any defect in affidavit or in its verification, the same
F is curable and the same cannot be a sufficient ground to dismiss
the petition in limine. In the instant case, the petitioner has
not filed the affidavit in the prescribed Form 25 in
accordance with Rule 94-A of the Conduct of Election Rules,
1961. Since the aforesaid defect is curable, same can be
cured by filing affidavit in the prescribed :form 25."
G
We are sorry to note that the para commences with a clumsy
statement "so far as the contention with respect to verification or
affidavit" and makes an irrelevant reference to the G.M. Siddeshwar
case (supra) and ultimately records a conclusion without any discussion
of the pleadings or evidence that the ELECTION PETITIONER has
H not filed an affidavit in Form-25. It was however ordered at para 6 of
AJAY ARJUN SINGH v. SHARADENDU TIWARI & OTHERS 567
[CHELAMESWAR, J.]

the order dated 25.08.2014: A
"I do not find any ground for rejection of the petition in limine
under Order 7 Rule 11 of the CPC. Accordingly, LA. No.43/
2014, filed by the respondent No.I is hereby dismissed. The
petitioner is directed to file affidavit in Form 25 of the Conduct of
Election Rules, 1961 within 15 days from the date of receipt of 8
certified copy of the order. Respondent No. l is also directed to
file written statement within two weeks from the date of receipt
of certified copy of this order."
It is a wholly unsatisfactory way of dealing with any issue in a
judicial proceeding and more so with election petitions. Election petitions c
deal with the basic rights of the citizenry of this country. Election is a
"politically sacred" event and an election dispute is too serious a matter
to be dealt with casually. Therefore, the Parliament thought it fit to
entrust the adjudication of election disputes to the High Courts. It is
unfortunate that the learned Judge chose to deal with the matter so
casually. The result is that a finding that there was no affidavit in the D
Form No.25 came to be recorded without recording any finding regarding
the existence or otherwise of the affidavit which' is said to have been
annexed in the election petition at page nos.394 and 395 nor its content.
Since the Interlocutory Application was dismissed, the ELECTION
PETITIONER had neither a reason nor the necessity to challenge the E
correctness of the findings recorded in the order as the decision is in his
favour.
21. Aggrieved by the said order, the RETURNED CANDIDATE
filed the Review Petition seeking review of the said order. The application
hinged on the finding recorded in the order dated 25.08.2014 that "the F
petitioner has not filed the affidavit in the prescribed Form No.25''. It is,
therefore, pleaded in the Review Petition that the direction of the High
Court permitting the ELECTION PETITIONER to cure the defect in
the affidavit filed along with the election petition is unsustainable and
hence the order dated 25.08.2014 is to be reviewed. Interestingly, in the
rejoinder dated 24.12.2014 filed by the RETURNED CANDIDATE to G
the reply of the ELECTION PETITIONER dated 8.11.2014 in the said
Review Petition, the RETURNED CANDIDATE' stated as follows:
"Para 4. That, the averments made in the petition were verified
by the petitioner as per verification clause; submitted an affidavit
in support of the petition and filed another affidavit under Form- H
568 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2016] 4 S.C.R.

A 25 at pages 394 and 395 of the Election Petition and the third
affidavit dated 31.8.2014 pursuant to order of the Hon 'ble Court
dated 25.8.2014."
22. It is clear from the abovementioned pleading of the
RETURNED CANDIDATE that he is clearly aware of the fact that
B there were two affidavits filed along with the election petition as averred
by the ELECTION PETITIONER in his petition. The said review
application was dismissed by order dated 18.03.2015. Aggrieved by the
same, the RETURNED CANDIDATE filed SLPNo.11096 of2015.
23. It is rather difficultto understand the order dated 18.03.2015.
c There was an unnecessary examination of various authorities of the
Supreme Court without first settling the basic facts and identifying the
issues. The High Court extracted the content of an affidavit which
according to the ELECTION PETITIONER is an affidavit filed in
compliance with the requirement of Section 83(1 )( c) but notthe affidavit
in Form 25 and records a conclusion at para 6 as follows:
D
"6. A bare reading of earlier affidavit filed by the petitioner makes
it clear that the petitioner had covered all the pleadings in his
affidavit and no pleading was left which was not mentioned in the
affidavit but what was lacking was that the earlier affidavit was
not in the prescribed Form No.25 of the Rule 94-A of the Rules of
E 1961. Certainly, there was a non-compliance of proviso to Section
83 (I) of the Act of 19 51 but Section 83(1) of the Act of 1951 is
not covered under Section 86 of the Act of 1951."
Interestingly, at para 9, once again the High Court recorded a
conclusion:
F
"9. As mentioned herein above, in the instant case substantial
compliance of Section 81 (3) of the Act of 1951 has already been
done by the petitioner by filing first affidavit along with the petition
but only defect was that the affidavit was not in prescribed format,
therefore, at the most it was a non-compliance of Section 83( 1)
G of the Act of 1951 and same is curable .... "
The cryptic conclusions recorded in the order dated 18.03.2015
only add to the existing confusion.
24. However, aggrieved by the conclusion that the affidavit was
"not in the prescribed Form-25", the ELECTION PETITIONER
H
AJAY ARJUN SINGH v. SHARADENDU TJWARI & OTHERS 569
[CHELAMESWAR, J.]

preferred SLP No.15361 of2015 on the ground that such a conclusion A
came to be recorded on an erroneous identification of the affidavit.
Aggrieved by the dismissal of the Review Petition, the RETURNED
CANDIDATE filed SLPNo.11096 of2015.
25. When the appeals were argued before this Court on 20 .08.2015,
the ELECTION PETITIONER made a submission that two separate B
affidavits were filed along with the election petition and the High Court's
observation (supra) are based on an erroneous identification or-ihe
affidavit. The RETURNED CANDIDATE took a stand that there was
no 2nd affidavit as alleged by the ELECTION PETITIONER in
compliance with the proviso to Section 83(1) of the RP Act filed along
with the election petition.
c
26. In view of the abovementioned imprecise findings recorded
by the High Court without any reference to the pleadings or evidence on
record and the contradictory stands taken before this Court by the parties,
this Court.thought it fit to adjourn the matter in order to enable the parties
to seek a clarification regarding the true state of facts whether there D
was one or two affidavits filed along with the election petition 6 •
27. Pursuant to the said order, the ELECTION PETITIONER
filed I.A. No.11665/2015 seeking clarifications from the Madhya Pradesh
High Court. The said I.A. was disposed ofby an order dated 29.9.2015'.
E
The High Court, recorded;
6
'The matters were argued at some length before us. Learned counsel appearing for the
RETURNED CANDIDATE has proceeded on the basis that there is no affidavit at all
as required under Section 83(l)(c) of the Act whereas it is pointed out by learned
counsel on behalf of ELECTION PETITIONER that as a matter of fact two separate
affidavits were filed along with the election petition. The first being an affidavit in F
compliance of requirement of the provisions under Order VI Rule 15(4) of Civil
Procedure Code and the second an affidavit in compliance with requirement of Section
83(1 )(c) of the Act. Xerox copies of both the affidavits are available on record here.
The question whether there was one affidavit or two affidavits filed along with the
election petition as mentioned above, the actual date when those affidavits were filed,
whether either of the two affidavits is filed in compliance with the requirement of
Section 83(1)(c) of the Act or not are matters for examination of the High Court. The G
High Court is required to record definite findings in the event there is any dispute with
respect to the questions mentioned above. Unfortunately, the orders of the High Court
are cryptic and the findings recorded by the High Court (extracted earlier in this order)
are not clear with regard to the above mentioned questions."
'Challenging the correctness of the said order, SLP 31051/2015 is filed by the RETURNED
CANDIDATE. - H
570 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2016] 4 S.C.R.

A "3 7. On the basis of aforesaid discussion, the questions posed by
the Supreme Court in order dated 20-08-2015, are answered in
the following manner:
Question No. 1: Whether there was one affidavit or two
affidavits filed along with the election petition?
B Answer: Two affidavits were filed along with election petition.
Question No. 2: The actual date when those affidavits were
filed?
Answer: Both affidavits were filed on 20-01-2014, the date on
c which the election petition was filed.
Question No. 3: Whether either of the two affidavits is filed in
compliance with the requirement of section 83( 1)( c) of the
Representation of the People Act, 1951?
Answer: The affidavit at page nos. 394 & 395 of the election .
D petition is filed in compliance with the requirement of proviso
appended to section 83( 1)( c) of the Representation of People Act,
1951.
38. I.A. No. 11665/2015 stands disposed of accordingly."
28. The said order is the subject matter of challenge in SLP No.
E
31051 of 2015 filed by the RETURNED CANDIDATE. Apart from
the various grounds on which the correctness of the findings recorded
by the High Court are challenged, the RETURNED CANDIDATE took
a preliminary objection that the order dated 29.9.2015 suffers from lack
ofjurisdiction and therefore, it is required to be set aside on that ground
F alone8 •
29. According to the RETURNED CANDIDATE, I.A. No.11665
of 2015 ought to have been heard by a Division Bench because of the
stipulation contained in Rule 13(2) of the High Court of Madhya Pradesh
Rules, 2008. The said Rule stipulates that any application seeking
G clarifications of an earlier order of the Court passed by a learned Judge,

8
See Ground No.8 ofSLP (C) No.31051 of2015
"Whether the impugned order has been passed in violation of the provisions of
Chapter JV Rule 13 of the Madhya Pradesh High Court Rules. 2008? If yes.
whether the impugned order is liable to be set aside on the ground alone?"
H
AJAY ARJUN SINGH v. SHARADENDU TIWARI & OTHERS 571
[CHELAMESWAR, J.]

who retired thereafter, ought to be heard by a Division Bench9 and Justice A
Solanki who passed the order in the OR VII R 11 petition retired
subsequently.
30. In response, it is submitted on behalf of the ELECTION
PETITIONER that:
i) such an objection was never raised by the RETURNED cB
CANDIDATE before the High Court when I.A. No.11665
of 2015 was being heard and therefore now cannot be
permitted to raise the same;
ii) that, the adjudication of an election petition is governed by
Section 81 A read with Section 86 of the Representation of c
the Peoples Act, 1951. Non-compliance, if any, with the
Rules of the High Court framed under Article 225 does not
render the order one without jurisdiction;
iii) that, I.A. No.11665 of2015 is "more about clarification of
record, not clarification of order in strict sense". D
In other words, the clarification sought is not regarding either
the interpretation ofthe earlier orders or the legal implications
of the earlier orders but an enquiry into certain facts and
the record of the High Court pertaining to the election
petition. Therefore, Rule 13 would have no application. E
(iv) That the requirement of a matter being heard by a Division
Bench under Rule 13( I )(b) is limited only io the cases of
review, clarification or modification of only judgments,

9
The relevant portion of Rule 13 reads as follows:- F
" 13. (I )(a) Save as provided in sub-rule (2), an application for review, clarification or
modification of a judgment, decree or final order, passed by a Judge or Judges shall be
heard by the same Judge or Judges:
Provided that such application filed in respect of an interlocutory order in a pending
case shall be posted before the regular bench.
(b) An application for review, clarification or modification of a judgment, decree
or final order, passed by a Judge or Judges who or one or more of whom~ or are- G
(i) temporarily unavailable and in the opinion of the Chief Justice, the
application, looking to the urgency of the matter. cannot wait for such Judge or Judges
to resume work or,
(ii) permanently unavailable, shall be heard
(I) if the decree or order, review of which is applied for, was passed by a Judge
sitting alone, by the regular division bench."
H
572 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2016) 4 S.C.R.

A decrees and final orders but not to the interlocutory orders
such as the order of which "clarification" was sought.
31. We reject the preliminary objection raised by the RETURNED
CANDIDATE:
The Reason:
B
The adjudication of election petitions including the examination of
all incidental questions in interlocutory proceedings arising during
the course of the adjudication of the election petition is entrusted
by Section 80A of the Representation of People Act, 1951 to the
High Court within whose jurisdiction the election dispute arises.
c Section 80A(2) stipulates that the jurisdiction shall be exercised
ordinarily by a Single Judge who is to be designated by the Chief
Justice 10 •
(a) Though the said Section indicates that the Chief Justice has
a discretion to entrust trial of an election petition to a Bench
D consisting of more than one judges, such a discretion is to
be exercised by the Chief Justice alone.
(b) The Rules of the High Court are framed by the High Court
pursuant to the power vested in it under Article 225 11 • The
exercise of such power is subject to the provisions of the
E Constitution and the "provisions of any law of the
"'Sec. 80A(2)-Such jurisdiction shall be exercised ordinarily by a single Judge of the
High Court and the Chief Justice, shall, from time to time, assign one or more Judges for
that purpose.
Provided that where the High Court consists only of one Judge, he shall try all
election petitions presented to that Court.
F "Article 225. Jurisdiction of existing High Courts.-Subject to the pro\'isions of
this Constitution and to the provisions of any law of the appropriate Legislature made
by virtue of powers conferred on that Legislature by this Constitution, the jurisdiction
of, and the law administered in, any existing High Court. and the respective powers of
the Judges thereof in relation to the administration ofjustice in the Court, including any
power to make rules of Court and to regulate the sittings of the Court and of members
G thereof sitting alone or in Division Courts, shall be the same as immediately before the
commencement of this Constitution:
Provided that any restriction to which the exercise oforiginaljurisdiction by any of the
High Courts with respect to any matter concerning the revenue or concerning any act
ordered or done in the collection thereof was subject immediately before the
commencement of this Constitution shall no longer apply to the exercise of such
jurisdiction.
H
AJAY ARJUN SINGH v. SHARADENDU TlWARI & OTHERS 573
[CHELAMESWAR, J.]

appropriate legislature". Rule 13 mandates the listing of A
certain matters (nature of which is described therein) before
a Division Bench. Such stipulation is contrary to the
stipulation of Section 80A(2) that election petitions are to
be tried by a single judge of the High Court leaving a
discretion in the Chief Justice to decide whether in a given
B
case, an election petition shall be heard by more than one
Judge. Such a statutory discretion vested in the Chief
Justice of the High Court cannot be curtailed by a rule made
as the High Court in view of the clear declaration by the
Constitution (in the opening clause ofArticle 225) that "any
rule shall be subject to the law made by the appropriate c
legislature".
We are, therefore, of the opinion that the objection raised by the
RETURNED CANDIDATE is not tenable.
In view of the above conclusion, we do not wish to examine the
other defences of the ELECTION PETITIONER in this regard. D

32. We now proceed to examine the appeals on their merits. The
fate of these appeals would eventually depend upon the answer to the
questions:
Whether the ELECTION PETITIONER filed two affidavits on E
20.01.2014 at the time of presenting the election petition, the second
of which being the affidavit (at page nos.394-395) referred to at
Serial No.57A of the Index appended to the election petition
purportedly in Form 25 to satisfy the requirement oflaw flowing
from the proviso to Section 83( I); and if such an affidavit was in
fact filed on 20.01.2014 as contended by the ELECTION .F
PETITIONER whether such an affidavit satisfies the prescription
contained in Form 25.
33. By order dated 29.09.2015 in IANo.11665 of20!5, the High
Court recorded a finding that the ELECTION PETITIONER filed two
affidavits along with the election petition on 20.01.2014 (the date on G
which the election petition was presented to the High Court). The High
Court also recorded a finding that the affidavit at page nos.394-395 of
the election petition which finds mention at Sr. No.57A in the index is "in
compliance with the requirement of proviso appended to section 83( I)( c)
of the Representation of People Act, 1951 ".
H
574 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2016] 4 S.C.R.

A 34. If the abovementioned two findings are legally tenable, three
appeals (arising out of SLPNos.33933 of2014, ·11096of2015 and 31051
of2015) filed by the RETURNED CANDIDATE are to be dismissed
and the appeal (arising out of SLP No.15361 of 2015) filed by the
ELECTION PETITIONER would have to be allowed. Therefore, we
proceed to examine the correctness of the abovementioned findings
B
recorded by the High Court.
35. The correctness of the said findings is contested by the
RETURNED CANDIDATE on the following grounds:
I. That at the earliest point of time, the High Court in its order
c dated 25.08.2014 recorded a finding that the ELECTION
PETITIONER did not file the affidavit in the prescribed Form
25. Therefore, the finding to the contra in the order of the
High Court dated 29.09.2015 is unsustainable.
II. In the order dated 25.08.2014, after recording a finding that
D the ELECTION PETITIONER did not file an affidavit in Form
25, the High Court recorded a further finding that such a defect
is curable and, therefore, directed the ELECTION
PETITIONER to cure the defect by filing a fresh affidavit in
Form 25. The ELECTION PETITIONER without challenging
the correctness of the finding that he failed to file an affidavit
E in Form 25 along with the election petition chose to comply
with the consequential direction of filing afresh affidavit.
Therefore, the ELECTION .PETITIONER is precluded from
contending at a later stage that the finding recorded by the
High Court in its order dated 25.08.2014 is incorrect.
F ill.Rule 6(4) of the Rules relating to election petitjons in the Madhya
Pradesh High Court requires:
"the Additional Registrar or Deputy Registrar shall affix his
full signature to every page of the petition and the affidavit
accompanying it."
G
and the affidavit at page nos.394 and 395 of the election petition does
not contain the seal and signature of the Registrar of the High Court.
Whereas all the other pages of the election petition contain the seal and
signature of the Registrar. The absence of the seal and the signature of
the Registrar only on the affidavit at page nos.394-395 must necessarily
H lead to an inference that such an affidavit must have been inserted in the.
AJAY ARJUN SINGH v. SHARADENDU TIWARI & OTHERS 575
[CHELAMESWAR, J.]

election petition sometime subsequent to the date of the presentation of A
the election petition. Such an inference would be further strengthened
by the fact that in the index of the election petition, reference to the
affidavit at page nos.394-395 is made at Entry No.57-A in the index.
The said entry is an addition made in handwriting in an otherwise
completely typewritten index.
B
Hence there is non-compliance with the requirement of the
mandate contained in proviso to Section 83( 1) warranting the dismissal
of the election petition in limine.
36. The ELECTION PETITIONER's response to the above
submissions of the RETURNED CANDIDATE is: c
(i) the High Court did not record any finding in its order dated
25.08.2014 regarding the existence or otherwise of the affidavit
at page nos.394-395 or the content of the said affidavit in
spite of the specific plea of the ELECTION PETITIONER.
The High Court only recorded a vague finding that the
D
ELECTION PETITIONER "has not filed the affidavit in the
prescribed Form 25 in accordance with Rule 94A of the
Conduct of Election Rules, 1961 ". It is not clear from the
said order as to which one of the two affidavits was in the
mind of the High Court when it recorded such a conclusion.
The High Court should have recorded a categoric finding in E
that regard in view of the specific pleading in the reply of the
ELECTION PETITIONER that the ELECTION
PETITIONER had in fact filed a separate affidavit to be found
at page nos.394-395 to satisfy the requirement of law under
the proviso to Section 83(1 ) 1 ~. In the absence of any such
F
categoric finding it cannot be said that the findings recorded
by the High Court in its order dated 29 .09.2015 are inconsistent
with the earlier finding recorded in the order dated 25.08.2014.
(ii) that there was no occasion for the ELECTION PETITIONER
to challenge the said finding as the ultimate result of the order
was in his favour. It is also submitted that though the G
ELECTION PETITIONER did not challenge the finding
recorded by the High Court in its order dated 25.08.2014, the
ELECTION PETITIONER is entitled to dispute the
12
Exact content of reply of the ELECTION PETITIONER in this regard is also
extracted at para 10 supra. H
576 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2016] 4 S.C.R.

A correctness of the finding as and when such a finding is sought
to be pressed into service against him.
(iii) Coming to the question of filing a fresh affidavit in obedience
of the consequential direction of the High Court, the
ELECTION PETITIONER submitted that such a course of
B action was pursued by him by way of abundant caution.
(iv) It is submitted by the ELECTION PETITIONER with regard
to the absence of the signature of the Registrar on the affidavit
at page nos.394-395 that though it is the duty o(the Registrar
of the High Court to sign on each page of the election petition
c and the affidavit filed alongwith the election petition, if the
Registrar failed in his duty the ELECTION PETITIONER
cannot be penalized by drawing an inference that the affidavit
was not presented along with the election petition. In this
regard, the ELECTION PETITIONER relied upon the well-
settled principle oflaw thatthe act (which includes an omission)
D of the court shall not prejudice the rights of any party.
37. We reject submissions of the RETURNED CANDIDATE
for the following reasons:
(i) The 1st submission of the RETURNED CANDIDATE that
E the subsequent and conflicting finding is not legally tenable, if at
all is based on any legal principle, it is based either on the doctrine
of res judicata or some principle analogous to it based on public
policy that there must be finality to the judicial orders. Even if the
principle of res judicata is invoked, (we only presume without
examining the applicability of the same), what is barred under
F Section 11 of CPC is the adjudication of an issue which was directly
and substantially in issue in a former suit between the same parties
and has been heard and finally decided.
(ii) The question whether two affidavits were filed along with the
Election petition though was not directly in issue as the
G RETURNED CANDIDATE never filed a rejoinder (to the reply
of the ELECTION PETITIONER wherein it was stated that he
had filed two affidavits alongwith the election petition). In deciding
the, OR VII R 11 petition the High Court never examined the
question (it is an issue of fact) whether there were two affidavits
as pleaded by the ELECTION PETITIONER in his reply to the
H
AJAY ARJUN SINGH v. SHARADENDU TIWARI & OTHERS 577
(CHELAMESWAR, J.]

said petition. We have already recorded that the order in OR VII A
R I I petition is too casual. It does not take note of either the facts
in issue or identify the point to be decided. Any finding of fact
recorded in such circumstances is required to be set aside if
appealed against by the aggrieved party if such an order is an
appealable order. Since the learned Judge dismissed the OR VII
B
R I I petition though the finding is adverse to the ELECTION
PETITIONER, he need not have filed an appeal 13 •
(iii) Therefore, we do not see any legal principle on the basis of
which the RETURNED CANDIDATE can successfully contend
that in view of the finding recorded in the order dated 25.08.2014
the High Court could not have recorded a finding in IA No.11665 c
of 2015 that two affidavits were filed along with the Election
petition.
(iii) We now deal with the submission of the RETURNED
13
Hardevinder Singh v. l'aramjit Singh, (2013) 9 SCC 261, para 21 at page 268:
D
21. After the 1976Amendment of0rder41 Rule 22, the insertion made in sub-rule (I)
makes it permissible to file a cross-objection against a finding. The difference is basically
that a respondent may defend hims~lfwithout taking recourse to file a cross-objection
to the extent the decree stands in his favour, but ifhe intends to assail any part of the
decree, it is obligatory on his part to file the cross-objection. In Banarsi i: Ram Phal.
(2003) 9 sec 606. it has been observed that the amendment inserted in 1976 is
clarificatory and three situations have been adverted to therein. Category I deals with E
the impugned decree which is partly in favour of the appellant and partly in favour of
the respondent. Dealing with such a situation, the Bench observed that in such a case,
it is necessary for the respondent to file an appeal or take cross-objection against that
part of the decree which is against him ifhe seeks to get rid of the same though he is
entitled to support that part of the decree which is in his favour without taking any
cross-objection. In respect of two o.ther categories which deal with a decree entirely in
favour of the respondent though an issue had been decided against him or a decree F
entirely in favour of the respondent where all the issues had been answered in
his favour but there is a finding in the judgment which goes against him, in the
pre-amendment stage, he could not take any cross-objection as he was not a
person aggrieved by the decree. But post-amendment, read in the light of the
Explanation to sub-rule (1), though it is still not necessary for the respondent to
take any cross-objection laying challenge to any findingadverse to him as the
G
decree is entirely in his favour, yet he may support the decree without cross-
objection. It gives him the right to take cross-objection to a finding recorded
against him either while answering an issue or while dealing with an issue. It is apt to
note that after the amendment in the Code, if the appeal stands withdrawn or dismissed
for default, the cross-objection taken to a finding by the respondent would still be
adjudicated upon on merits which remedy was not available to the respondent under
the unamended Code. H ,
578 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2016] 4 S.C.R.

A CANDIDATE regarding the absence of the seal and signature of
the Registrar of the High Court on the affidavit at page nos.394-
395.
a) The High Court in its order dated 29.9.2015 in I.A. No.11665
of2015 recorded a finding:
B "24. . .. However, the Registrar, in compliance with sub-rule
(4) of rule 8, has affixed his seal and signatures at every page
of the election petition and the affidavit at page no. 70 and 71.
However, no such seal or signature of the Registrar is to be
found upon the affidavit at page nos.394 & 395 .... "
c Further, at para 25 of the order, it is recorded:
"25. In this regard, it has to be kept in mind that all official acts
are presumed to be properly done. It is true that affidavit at
page nos.394 & 395 does not bear the seal or signatures of the
Registrar; however, it appears that it was not sealed and signed
D by the Registrar because it was annexed almost at the end of
the petition. Since, as per rules, documents annexed to an
election petition are not required to be signed and sealed by
the Registrar, none of the documents filed along with the petition
from serial No. 72 to Serial No.393 bears his seal and signatures.
E Probably, nobody pointed out to the Registrar that there is
another affidavit at page no.394; therefore, it was not sealed
and signed like other documents."
b) At the outset, it may be mentioned that there is a typographical
error in the abovementioned order. The relevant rule of the High
Court dealing with the matter is Rule 6(4) but not 8(4). Rule 6
F
reads as follows:
"Chapter VII
Rules Relating to Election Petitions
Rule 6 (I) Every Election Petition complete in all respects, shall
G be presented during the Court hours to the Additional Registrar or
Deputy Registrar Judicial, at Jabalpur.
(2) The name of the person presenting an Election petition,
with a description of the capacity in which he is presenting it, the
date and hour of presentation and any other particulars considered
H necessary shall be endorsed in the margin of first page of the
AJAY ARJUN SINGH v. SHARADENDU TIWARI & OTHERS 579
[CHELAMESWAR, J.]

petition by the Additional Registrar or Deputy Registrar under his A
own signature.
(3) The Additional Registrar or Deputy Registrar shall have
the petition examined in order to find out that all the requirements
of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, and these rules
have been complied with. B
(4) The Additional Registrar or Deputy Registrar shall
affix his full signature to every page of the petition and the
affidavit accompanying it.
(5) The Additional Registrar or Deputy Registrar, after
examining the petition, shall record his opinion on the opening order- c
sheet in the following:-
"Presented on ........ by ....... Properly
drawn up, apparently within time and properly stamped."
It can be seen from sub-rule (4) that the concerned Registrar
D
"shall affix his full signature to every page of the petition and the affidavit
_acc9mpanying it".
c) The failure of the Registrar to comply with the requirement of
sub-rule (4) is soughtto be explained by the High C-0urt by saying
that such a lapse occurred probably because nobody pointed out
E
to the Registrar regarding the existence of affidavit at page
nos.394-395. We are of the opinion that such a conclusion is not
tenable. Rule 6(4) casts a mandatory duty on the Registrar to sign
on each page of the election petition and also the affidavit filed
along with the election petition. Such a mandatory duty must be
performed irrespective of the fact whether somebody points out F
to the Registrar or not regarding the existence of the affidavit.
d) If the existence of the 2nd affidavit at page nos.394-395 of the
ELECTION PETITIONER is not in dispute but the question is
whether the non-compliance o.f the rule by the Registrar is fatal
to the election petition, perhaps the answer would be that "it is G
not". Because it is the settled proposition of law that the act or
omission of the Court shall not harm any party.
e) But when the question is whether such an affidavit was filed
along with the election petition on 20.01.2014, different
considerations arise. The question whether the ELECTION H
580 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2016] 4 S.C.R.

A PETITIONER filed the 2nd affidavit is a pure question of fact.
The burden of proving such a fact in law is on the ELECTION
PETITIONER if such a question is really in issue. Because ifhe
failed, the allegations of the commission of corrupt practices by
the RETURNED CANDIDATE cannot be adjudicated in the
absence of an affidavit in Form 25. However, such a question
B
was never in issue in OR VII R I 1 petition.
38. As already noticed at para IO (supra) at the earliest point
during the course of the proceedings of the election petition when the
question arose whether an affidavit in Form 25 was filed or not, the
ELECTION PETITIONER clearly took a stand that there was an
c affidavit at page nos.394 and 395. According to him, the said affidavit is
in Form 25 contemplated in proviso to Section 83(1 ). The RETURNED
CANDIDATE never disputed the statement (of the ELECTION
PETITIONER) by filing a Rejoinder to the above-mentioned stand taken
in the ELECTION PETITIONER's reply dated 11.7.2014 in the OR
D VII R 11 petition. The RETURNED CANDIDATE admits that at least
by 18.6.2014 - the date on which he received summons, a copy of the
election petition along with Annexures including the affidavit at page
nos.394-395 of the election petition was available on record. But his
case NOW is that such an affidavit was not filed along with the election
petition within the period oflimitation, but must have been inserted in the
E election petition sometime in the interregnum period between 22.1.2014
(the date on which the period oflimitation for filing the election petition
expired) and I 8.6.20 I 4.
39. But the objection of the RETURNED CANDIDATE in OR
VII R 11 petition was only that the "affidavit sworn and filed along with
F the petition by the petitioner is not in conformity with Form 25 of the
Conduct Rules, 1961." From the language of OR VII R I 1 petition, it is
clear that the RETURNED CANDIDATE's objection is only regarding
the format and content of the affidavit but not regarding the date of the
filing of the affidavit, on the other hand, the employment of the expression
G "along with" clearly indicates that the RETURNED CANDIDATE also
at that point of time accepted that the affidavit at page nos.394-395 was
presented on the same date i.e. 20.1.2014. Therefore, the question of
proof of the fact which was never in issue does not arise much less the
question of burden of proof.

H 40. The fact that the ELECTION PETITIONER chose to file
AJAY ARJUN SINGH v. SHARADENDU TIWARI & OTHERS 581
[CHELAMESWAR, J.]

yet another affidavit pursuant to the order dated 25.8.2014 is another A
circumstance sought to be relied upon by the RETURNED
CANDIDATE in support of his submission that there was no second
affidavit filed along with the election petition.
41. We are of the opinion that in the circumstances of the case,
the inference such as the one suggested by the RETURNED B
CANDIDATE cannot be drawn because the ELECTION PETITIONER
in his reply to the OR VII R 11 petition (specifically stating that he had
filed an affidavit in Form 25 along with the election petition) took a stand
by way of abundant caution that ifthe court comes to a conclusion that
his affidavit is found to be defective for any reason, he is willing to file
further affidavit to cure the defect. Unfortu,nately, the High Court took
c
a shortcut without examining the question whether the affidavit at page
nos.394-395 satisfies the requirement of Form 25 and (without recording
a definite finding in that regard) simply recorded a conclusion that the
defect is curable and the same can be cured by filing an affidavit in the
Form25". D
42. Mr. P.P. Rao, learned senior counsel submitted that the
ELECTION PETITIONER having availed the benefit of the order in
OR VII R 11 petition by filing another affidavit cannot now question the
correctness of the finding that he did not file an affidavit which is
compliance with proviso to Section 83(1 ). In support of the said E
submission, Mr. P.P. Rao relied on two judgments i.e. Sf(lfe ofPunj"b &
Others v. Krisltan Niwas, ( 1997) 9 SCC 31 and B"nku Chandra Bose
& Another v. Marium Be1:um & Another, AIR 1917 Cal. 546.
43. In our opinion, the principle laid down in the said judgments is
of no relevance to the controversy on hand. The dispute on hand is F
regarding the existence of a fact which was never in issue in OR VII R
11 petition. The RETURNED CANDIDATE cannot shift his case from
stage to stage. He cannot now be permitted to raise such a question of
fact in the absence of an appropriate pleading and contend that the
ELECTION PETITIONER is precluded from arguing that he had filed
a 2nd affidavit along with the election petition by pressing into service a G
r)JJe of estoppel.
44. In view of the foregoing discussion, Civil Appeal arising out
ofSLP (Civil) No.31051 of2015 being without any merits is dismissed.
As a consequence, Civil Appeals arising out of StP (Civil) Nos.33933
of2014 and 11096 of2015 are also required to be dismissed and they H
582 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2016] 4 S.C.R.

A are accordingly dismissed.
45. Coming to the Civil Appeal arising out ofSLP (Civil) No.15361
of 2015, the same is required to be allowed in view of the findings
recorded by the High Court in I.A. No.11665 of2015 which has become
final by virtue of dismissal of Civil Appeal arising out of SLP (Civil)
B No.31051 of2015. The same is accordingly allowed,
46. In the facts and circumstances of the case, there will be no
order as to costs.
Kalpana K. Tripathy Appeals disposed of.

c