IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE FOR RAJASTHAN AT JODHPUR ORDER Chet Ram & Anr. vs. Gauri Shanker & Ors. (S.B.C.Writ Petition No.4806/07) Dated :- 28.11.2007 HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE SANGEET LODHA Mr. B.N.Kalla, for the petitioner. None present for the respondents. In this writ petition, the petitioner has sought direction for early disposal of election petition No.1/06 “Chet Ram & Ors. vs. Gouri Shanker & Ors.” pending before learned Additional District Judge No.2(Election Tribunal), Sri Ganganagar. The election of the respondent no.1 as Sarpanch, Gram Panchayat, Noorpura, tehsil Sardulsahar , district Sri Ganganagar has been assailed by the petitioner by way of election petition on the ground that he was having more than 3 children on the date of election, therefore, by virtue of Section 19(l) of the Rajasthan Panchayati Raj Act, 1994 he was disqualified for election as a Sarpanch of the Gram Panchayat. It is submitted by the learned counsel for the petitioner that more than two years have lapsed but still the evidence to be led by both the parties has not been completed and the matter is being adjourned on or another pretext and the election petition is being handled by the Tribunal in a casual manner. The copy of the order sheets drawn by the Election Tribunal has been placed on record by the petitioner, a perusal whereof reveals that the petitioner has completed his evidence on 25.4.06 and thereafter, the matter was adjourned for non- petitioners' evidence thrice over. In the meantime, the respondent preferred an application under Order 18 Rule 14 of C.P.C. and the petitioner preferred an application under Order 6 Rule 17 C.P.C. Both the applications were allowed by the court with the consent of the parties on 27.1.07. After filing of the amended reply, the matter was again posted for evidence of the petitioner and on 24.5.07, it was stated on behalf of the petitioner that he does not want to produce any further evidence. Accordingly, the matter was posted for defendant evidence on 10.7.2007. On the said date the matter was adjourned to 27th August,07 on account of the post of the Presiding Officer being vacant. At this stage, without even waiting for the further proceedings in the matter, the petitioner has preferred this writ petition seeking direction for early disposal of the election petition. After perusal of the proceedings drawn by the learned Tribunal, I am of the considered opinion that the delay in disposal of the election petition cannot be attributed to the learned Election Tribunal. The petitioner is guilty of levelling reckless allegation against the Election Tribunal without any sense of responsibility. The delay cannot be attributed to the returned candidate alone as well. As a matter of fact,the petitioner himself is responsible for delay in disposal of the election petition to some extent. However, the matter pertaining to the election disputes of any democratic institution deserves to be disposed of with utmost priority, therefore, the learned Election Tribunal is directed to decide the election petition preferred by the petitioner expeditiously, in any case, within a period of four months from the date of this order. The writ petition stands disposed of accordingly. No order as to costs. (SANGEET LODHA),J.