Sh. Mohd. Ayub Khan v. Prof. Bhim Singh and Ors.

Supreme Court of India · 1996 INSC 382 · 1996

Coram: K. RAMASWAMY, S.P. BHARUCHA, K.S. PARIPOORNAN

The Election Conunission had issued notification on May 16, 1988 for holding bye-elections to the 5-Udhampur Parliamentary Constituency in the State of J ammu & Kashmir and the result of the election was H declared. Counting of the vote commenced on June 20, 1992. On a refer- 420 t MOHD. AYUB KHANv. BHIM SINGH 421 ence by the Returning Officer on June 21, 1988, the Election Commission A directed repoll at certain polling stations. Accordingly, repoll was done in those booths. The result of the election was challenged in the Election Petition No. 1 of 1988. The High Court in the impugned order dated October 13, 1992 has set aside the election on the grounds that under Section 64-A of the Representation of People Act, 1951, the Election B Commission had no power to order repoll and that, therefore, the election was void. The High Court, however, noted that since the previous Parlia ment stood dissolved and new Parliament was constituted, no order for repoll could be made. Shri M.C. Bhandare, learned senior counsel appearing for the appel- C !ant, contended that the Election Commission has got power to order repoll and, therefore, the order of the High Court is clearly illegal. It is not necessary for us at this stage to go into that question since it is only an academic issue. The High Court having noticed that the previous Parlia ment to which the election came to be held stood dissolved and that a new Parliament was constituted, should have declined to go into the question. D Nonetheless, the High Court has given it declaration which has only an academic value. We need not go into the said academic question since no substantial relief could be given, if the matter is to be heard on merits. We are not expressing.any opinion on merits since we have already E held that the view expressed by the High Court is an academic issue. The findings recorded therein would not be treated as a binding precedent. The appeal is dismissed accordingly. No costs. T.N.A. Appeal dismissed.