QUAMARUL ISLAM versus S.K. KANTA AND ORS.

10. In the written-st~tement filed by the respondent-appellant, all the allegations levelled against him about the commission of the corrupt prac- tices were denied. It was asserted that the appellant had filed his nomina- tion paper on 31.10.1989 as a candidate of Muslim League and that the allegation to the effect that the appellant was the General Secretary of the Karnataka branch of IUML and in that capacity he had enlisted the support of the MYL was false. It was categorically asserted that "this respondent has not appointed Mohd. Moiuddin Pasha as the election agent at any time. One Kesar Mohd. was the election agent of the respondent". The appellant-respondent stated that the publications (messages and ad- vertiesments) extracted in the election petition allegedly issued by the IUML or by MYL had nothing to do with him as he was not a member of the IUML much less, its General Secretary. That the appellant-respondent was also not a member of MYL either and had nothing to do with the . messages and advertisements allegedly published in "Bahm.ani News" and that the same were not originated or sponsored by the respondent nor were G the same published either at the instance of this respondent or his election agent. The appellant-respondent also denied that he had delivered speeches as alleged in the election petition or that he had made any appeal on the ground of religion etc. The respondent also stated that : "It is not possible to understand the grievance of the petitioner set out in para 6 of the petition. It is not bis ')…_ .. QUAMARULISLAM v.S.KKANTA[DR.ANAND,J.) case the voters included in the Assembly Constituency had not been permitted to cast their votes at the election. Gnce again, the allegation set out in para 7 of the petition suffers from vagueness and uncertainty".

11. On the basis of the pleadings of the parties, the following issues were framed by the learned trial Judge : (1) "Whether the petitioner proves that Respondent No.1 has committed acts as alleged in the petition of undue influence on voters interfering with free exercise of votes attracting Section 123(2) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951? (2) Whether the petitioner proves that Respondent No.1 has committed acts as alleged in the petition that he appealed to the religion, caste, community or used religious symbols to further his prospects of election and/or for prejudicially affecting the election of the petitioner attracting Section 123(3) of the Repre- sentation of the People Act, 1951? c (3) Whether the petitioner proves that Respondent No.1 has committed acts as alleged in the petition to promote or attempt to promote feelings of enmity or hatred between different classes of voters on grounds of religion, caste, community for furtherance of the prospects of election of Respondent No.1 or for prejudici~l,ly affecting the election of the petitioner attracting Section 123(3A) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951? ( 4) Whether the petitioner proves that Respondent No.1 has committed acts alleged in the petition of publishing any pamphlet or statement which is false or believed to be false in relation to the personal character, con- duct of the petitioner calculated to prejudice the prop- sects of the petitioner attracting Section 123( 4) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951? •B c [1994) 1 S.C.R. (5) Whether the petitioner proves that Respondent No.1 has committed acts alleged in the petition to procure or obtain the assistance of persons in service of the Government as enumerated therein to further the prospects of Respondent No. l's election attracting Section 123(7) of the Respresentation of the People Act, 1951? ( 6) Whether the petitiOner proves that Mohd. Moiuddin Pasha acted as the election agent of Respondent no.1 or with his consent committed the aforesaid corrupt practices in issue Nos.1 to 5? (7) Whether the petitioner proves that the election of Respondent No.1 is vitiated on account of illegal or improper. (i) exclusion of voters from exercising their votes and/or (ii) Acceptance of votes which are invalid and/or (iii) rejection or refusal of votes which are valid (8) Whether ·the petitioner proves that the election of Respondent No.1 is vitiated on account of improper or illegal procedure adopted or irregularities in the conduct of election? (9) Whether the recrimination petition is bad for want of compliance of any of the provisions of the Respresen- tation of the People Act, 1951? (10) Whether Respondent No.1 proves that the petitioner or any person acting as his agent or any other person ., , with his knowledge and consent committed acts at- ….. tracting Section 123(3) and 123(3A) of the Repre- ·-sentation of the People Act, 1951 as alleged in the · recrimination petition? (11) Whether Respondent No.1 proves that petitioner or y- any person acting as his agent or any other person with his knowledge and consent restrained voters from ex- ercising their franchise as alleged in para-9 of the recrimination petition? (12) To what reliefs, if any, the parties are entitled?

12. The High Court dealt with issues 1-4 attracting Section 123(2), 123(3), 123(3A) and 123(4) of the Act together. After considering the ditect, circumstantial and documentary evidence, all the above four issues were decided in the affirmative and it was held that the appellant-respon- dent had committed the corrupt practices attracting Section 123(2), 123(3), C 123(3A) and 123( 4) of the Act. Issue No.5 was decided in the negative with the result that the appellant was not found to have committed the corrupt practice attracting Section 123(7) of the Act. Issue Nos.7 and 8 were dealt with together and were answered in the negative and against the election petitioner. Issues Nos.9-11 had been framed due to the filing of the recrimination petition by the appellant-respondent and since the appellant- respondent did not press the recrimination petition, therefore, these three issues were not considered by the learned trial Judge.

13. The learned Judge also considered the question of-issuing a notice to Sh. Mohd. Moiuddin Pasha under Section 99 of the Act on the E basis of the allegations made against him in the election petition while dealing with issue No.6, but after the appellant filed his written state~ent and the recrimination petition and denied Mr. Pasha's participation in the election campaign in any capacity whatsoever to further the prospects of his elections, the Court came to the conclusion that the evidence and material on the record was totally inadequate to warrant the issuance of a notice under Section 99 of the Act and the issue was decided accordingly. Finally, the appellant-respondent was held directly responsible for commit- ting the corrupt practices under Section 123(2), (3), (3A), (4) of the Act and consequently, the learned trial judge held the election of the appellant to the Karnataka Legislative Assembly from 10 Gulbarga Assembly con- stitutency as null and void.

14. Since, the learned trial judge has reproduced the evidence both oral and documentary in extenso, we do not find it necessary to reproduce the same and shall conteqt ourselves by referring only to the relevant evidence during the course of discussion. It is only the findings on issues H .[1994) 1 S.C.R. 1-4 and 12 which have been decided against the appellant-herein on which arguments have been addressed before us by learned counsel for the parties. We, therefore, refrain from dealing with the remaining issues, including issues 9-11, which arose out of the recrimination petition which was not pressed before the trial court.

15. Mr. Kapil Sibal, the learned senior advocate appearing for the appellant, the returned candidate whose election was set aside by the High Court, in the first place submitted . that the pleadings of the election petitioner in his petition were so vague, general in nature, lacking in material facts and particulars, besides being frivolous and vexatious, that the learned trial court should have stuck down and deleted all the pleadings and dismissed the election petition as the averments in the election petition did not give rise to any triable issue at the threshold. Learned counsel argued that the pleadings in an election petition are required to be ab- solutely precise and clear, containing all necessary facts and particUiars, as D required by law which discloses a complete cause of action and in the absence of the same, the returned candidate cannot be called opon to meet the charge set out in a defective election petition. Learned counsel for the respondent did not dispute the proposition of law as canvassed by Mr. Sibal but submitted that having failed to raise any objection about the alleged defects at the initial stage and having faced the trial and led evidence, it E was not open to the appellant now to argue that the defect in the pleadings alone should result in the dismissal of the election petition at this belated stage.

16. In Laxmi Narayan Nayak v. Ramratan Chaturvedi. and Ors., [1990] ·F 2 S.C.C. 173, after dealing with a catena of authorities, regarding the nature of pleadings and evidence to be led in support thereof in an election petition, a Division Bench of this Court to which one of us, namely Pandian J ., was a party, formulated some essential tests with regard to the nature of pleadings and evidence in an election petition. It is useful to eXtract the principles laid down therein. They are as follows : (1) "The pleadings of the election petitioner in his petition should be absolutely precise and clear containing all necessary details and particulars as required by law vide Dhartipakar Madan /al Aganval v. Rajiv Gandh~ and Kana Prabhakara Rao v. M. Seshagiri Rao. y- ,_,.. · .. ·~ .. QUAMARULISLAM v.S.K.KANTA[DR.ANAND,J.) (2) The allegations in the election petition should not be vague, general in nature or lacking of materials or frivolous or vexatioiis because the court is empowered at any stage of the proceedings to strike down or delete . pleadings which are suffering trom such vices as not raising any triable issue videManphul Singh v. Surinder Singh, ..,:.d Kona Prabhakara ·Rao v. M. · Seshagiri Rao and_Dhartipakar Madan Lal AgtllWal v. Rajiv Gandhi. (3) The evidence adduced in support of the pleadings should be of such nature leading to an irresistible conclusion or unimpeachable result that the allegations made, have been committed rendering the election void under Section 100 vide lumuna Prusad Mukhariya v. Lachhi Ram, and Rahim Khan v. Khurshid Ahmed. ( 4) The evidence produced before the court in suport of the pleadings must be clear, eongent satisfactory, credible and positive ·and also should staiid the test of strict and scrupulous scrutiny vide Ram Sharan Yadav v. Thakur Mu?eshwar Nath Singh. (5) It is unsafe in an election case to accept oral evidence at its face value without looking for assurances for some surer circumstances or unimpeachable doeu-· · ments vide Rahim Khan v. · Khurshid 'Admiid, M.Narayana Rao v. Venkata Raddy, Lakshmi Raman· Acharya v. Chandan Singh,· and Ramji Prasad Singh v.· Ram Bi/as Iha. · ( 6) The onus of proof of the allegations made in the election petition is undou~tedly on the person who assails an election which has been· concluded vide Rahim Khan v. Khurshid Ahmed, Mohan Singh v. Bhan war/a~ and Ramji Prasad Singh v. Ram Bi/as Iha'. c

17. We are in r~spectfol agreement with the above principles and that • saves us the botheration of referring to the various judgments, which were considered and noticed by the Division Bench while dealing with the s!lbject. We shall, therefore, only consider such of the judgments, as in our H (1994) 1 S.C.R. A opinion, have a direct bearing on the controversy before us.

18. In Simant N. Balkrishna and. anr. v. George Fernandez and Ors., (1969) 3 S.C.C. 238, after dealing with the substantive law on the subject of election petition, this Court dealt with the procedural provisions contained in Sections 81, 83 and 84 of the Act. It was noticed that Section 81 provides that the election petition must contain a concise statement of the material facts on which the petitioner relies and further that he must also set forth full particulars of any corrupt practice that he alleges including as full a· statement as possible of all the names of parties alleged to have committed such corrupt practice and the date and place of the commission of each C such practice. Section 83 which requ·res the fulle&t possible particulars to be provided in an election petition was held to be mandatory. This Court then went on to point out the difference between material facts and particulars and observed : ' ……

What. is the difference between material facts and particulars? The word 'material' shows that the facts necessary to formulate a complete cause of action must be stated. Omission of a single material fact leads to an incomplete cause of action and the statement of claim becomes bad. The function of particulars is to present as full a picture of the cause of action with such further information in detail as to make the opposite party under- stand the case he will have to meet. There may be some overlapping between material facts and particulars but the two are quite. distinct. Thus material facts will mention that a statement of fact (which must be set out) was made and it must be alleged that it refers to the character and conduct of the candidate that it is false or which the returned candidate believes to be false or does not believe to be true and that it is calculated to prejudice the chances of the petitioner.

In the particulars the name of the person making the statement, with the date,· time and place will be mentioned. The material facts thus will show the grounds of corrupt practice and the complete cause of action and the particulars will give the necessary informa- tion to present a full picture of the cause of action. In stating the material facts it will not do merely to quote the QUAMARULISLAM v.S.K.KANTA(DR.ANAND,J.] words of the section because then the efficiency of the words 'material facts' \\ill be lost. The. fact which con~ stitutes the corrupt practice must be stated and the fact must be co-related to one of the heads <Jf corrupt practice. Just as a plafut without disclosing a proper cause of action canot be said to be a good plaint, so also an election petition without the material facts relating to a. corrupt practice. is no election petition at . all A petition which merely cites the sections cannot be said to disclose a cause of action. where the allegation is the making of .a false statement.

That statement must appear and the particulars must be full as to the person making the. statement and the necessary information. Formerly the petition used to be in two parts. The material facts had to be included in , the petition and the particulars in a schedule. It is incon- ceivable that a petition could be filed without the material facts and the schedule by merely citing the. corrupt prac- . ti~ from the statute. Indeed the penalty of dismissal summarily was enjoined for petitions ·which did not i:om- ply with the requirement. Today the particulars need not be separately included in a schedule but the distinction remains. The entire and complete caiise of action must be in the petition in the shape of material facts, the par- ticulars being the further information to. complete the picture …… "

19. The .Court then went on to consider the power of the trial court c to allow amendment of an election petition found deficient in its pleadings F and laid down that the said power can be exercised only to _allow particulars to be amplified but that there is a complete proluoition against an amend- ment 'which will have the effect of introducing ·particulars of corrupt practice not previously alleged in the petition'. The allegation of corrupt practice in the election petition must show a complete cause of action by disclosing all material facts and if the election petitioner has omitted to G allege a corrupt practice. He cannot be permitted to give even the. par- ticulars of that corrupt practice, by way of an amendment.

20. In Virendra Kumar Sak/echa v. Jagjiwan and Ors, (1972} 3 S.C.R. 955, this Court emphasized the importance of an affidavit filed in support H of an election petition, whereby the election of tb,e returned candidate-has been questioned on allegations of corrupt practice. It was held that the allegations of corrupt practice are by law required to be supported by an affidavit and the deponent of the affidavit must set out in the affidavit clearly as to which statements relating to the corrupt practice are true to B the knowledge of the deponent and which of the statements are true to his information, in which event the deponent is required to furnish the source of ·information also. The court dealing with the importance of furnishing the source of information at the earliest opportunity observed : c "The non-disclosure of grounds or sources of informa- tion in an election petitioI' which is to be filed within 45 days from the date of elect.on of the returned candidate, will have to be scrutinised from two points of view. The non- disclosure of the grounds will indicate that the elec- tion petitioner did not not come forward with the sources of information at the first opportunity. The real impor- tance of setting out the sources of information at the time of the presentation of the petition is to give the other side notice of the contemporaneous evidence on which. the election petition is based. That will give an oppo~tunity to the other side to test the genuineness and veracity of the sources of information. The other point of view is that the election petitioner· will not be able. to make any departure from the sources or grounds. If there is any embellishment of the case it will be discovered".

21. It is in the light of the above settled principles, that we shall first examine the pleadings, including the affidavit filed by the election petitioner in support of the allegations of corrupt practice to find out whether they satisfy the tests laid down by this Court in various judgments.

22. According to the election petitioner, the appellant was the G general secretary for Karnataka State of the Indian Union Muslim League and had appointed Mohd. Moiuddin Pasha as convener of the Muslim Youth League, who also acted as the agent of the appellant in the entire ,: election. We have already extracted the offending messages which were published in "The Bahmani News" allegedly by IUML and MYL in the H earlier part of this judgment. The petitioner went on to say : OU AMAR UL ISLAM v. S.K. KANTA [DR. ANAND, J.) " …… These publications have been made by respondent- I and with .. his consent in the daily Urdu News paper referred to above. Many such publications have been made throughout the period of election i.e. between 1.11.1989 to 24.11.1989 including the date of election. The appeals made by the publications have been made by respondent-I and with his consent by the Muslim Youth League .and these appeals have been made to further the prospects of the election of respondent-I prejudically af- fecting the election of this petitioners. The said appe.tls are made on the ground of religion and caste viz. the Muslim Community. Respondent-I belongs to the Mohammedan community. Respondent-I belongs to the Mohammedan electorate in particular and the said ap- peals amount to religious appeal as referred to in Section 123(3) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951".

23. The election petitioner, thereafter, referred to the message and advertisement in "The Bahmani News" dated 15.11.1989 in the following terms: "In fact the appeal in the publication dated 15.11.1989 in the above mentioned Urdu Newspaper, has not only got a message, but also contains a sacred religious symbol written in Urdu, which reads Ershade Nabhavi when translated would convey the following meaning. Voice of paigamber-e-Islam i.e. Voice of Prophet of Islam. Seeking votes under a r~ligious symbol amounts to corrupt practice under Section 123{3). Besides the use of the said symbol and the publication also amounts to promotion of feelings of enmity and hatred between different class of citizen of Indian on the ground of relgion, race, caste and com- munity. This also amounts to an attempt by the respon- dent-I and with has consent, by the Convenor of Muslim Youth League for the furtherance of the prospects of the election of respondent-I and have prejudically affected the c election of this petitioner, and amounts to corrupt practice c under section 123(3A) of the aforesaid Act." The election petitioner then stated that apart from the messages published in the newspaper which come within the mischief of Sections 123(2), (3) and 3A of the Act, a statement of fact, which is a false statement, was also made by the appellant and with his consent by others, as published in the newspaper dated 1.11.1989, to the following effect : "Recollect your memory before voting, that you might have come across to hear this sentences :- "I Will not sign on your passport forms because I have been elected only on Hindu Votes you go to him to whom you have voted.

The said publication made on 1.11.1989 in the Urdu daily newspaper is a statement of fact, which is false and it relates to the personal character and conduct bf this petitioner. And this statement is made by respondent-I reasonably calculated to prejudice the election prospects of this petitioner. This amounts to corrupt practice within the meaning of section 123( 4) of the said Act". The election petitioner has been alleged that the returned candiate · also delivered speeches which amount to the commission of various corrupt practices. In paragrah 11 of the election petition, the election petitioner asserted: "That apart, apart from publishing the message in the newspaper, respondent no.1 has spoken to the el~ctorate of the 10 Gulbarga Assembly Copstituency in various places offencing the religious·feeiings of the communities and thereby bringing a rift between the other communities and -M~lims, amounting a corrupt practice as stated in Section 123(3) and (3A) of the Act.

In fact at Roza Market area, about 8 days prior to the date of poll at about 9.30 p,m. respondent-11 at an election meeting, among other things uttered the following speech in Urdu, which clearly indicates that there has been interference in the free exercise of the electoral right by the Electorate on the -..,,- basis of the religion and community feelings. The extract of the speech reads thus :- "Muslim Youth League ke convenor Mister Mohiuddin Pasha. Gujeesta Numaindl!Jle Main passport form per dasthakat nahin karoonga, Kahakar Firkha prasthi Ka Ainae Lagaya. Sabekha MIA Nay Muslim Ilakhaun main Borewell kay liye sifarish tak nahee ki. Prakash Akash Kore nay chay saath muslim Makan today hain. Musal- manaun kaa Imaani Josh Tha jo unhonney Muslim league to har bear jeeyade vote diye. Aap ko sabz parcham ki Izzad Rakhana hai. Apnay Ittehad ko Mazhooth Karna hooga. Hindustan Mein Jab Tah Ek hi Musalman Kalmaa Haquee bolnay walaa hai Muslim league ko Naheen Meet- ta sakta. Jab toom Apnay mohalley main javogey the athraaf dekho kaheen umnaafikhay Islam (Islaam kay Gaddar) Meer Jafar, Mir Sadiq, jaisay cominay Millath Kay khilaaf Muslim League _kay kheelaff kaheen sazeesh tho nahee kar rahey hain". The utterances of the respondent-I excerpted above amounts to corrupt practice or undue influence and religious appeal on the ground of caste and religion".

24. In para (xiv), the election petition stated thus : . "The respondent-I committed the corrupt practices narrated above in· the No.10 Gulbarga Assembly Con- c stituency, by the various publications, utterances and by procuring the assistance of the Re.turning Officer, throughout the period of election i.e. from 1.11.1989 to 24.11.1989". In the affidavit filed in support of the allegations of the corrupt practice in the petition (as akeady extracted) the election petitioner did not disclose G the source of information, which the election petitioner, believed to be true in. support of the allegations of corrupt practice as detailed in the election petition. Besides, Shri Moiuddin Pasha was specifically described as the election agent of the appellant-respondent who had also committed the corrupt practices alleged in the petiton. c [1994) 1 S.C.R.

25. In the written statement (styled as objection statement) the appellant herein categorically asserted that he had not appointed Mohd. Moiuddin Pasha as an election agent at any time and that Kaiser Mohammed was his election agent. In para 5, the appellant stated as follows: "The allegations that this respondent had committed cor-· rupt practices within the meaning of Section 123(2), (3), (3A) and (4) of the Peoples Representation Act, are all false. The publications if any, issued by the Indian Union Muslim League or by Muslim Youth League have anything to do with this respondent, as he was not a Member of the Indian-Union Muslim League, much less its Secretary. This respondent was not a member of Muslim Youth League either. This respondent had nothing to do with the publications alleged to have been published in Bahamani News. It is submitted that the publications in Bahamani News were not originated nor sponsored by this respondent. Hence, the publications in Bahamani News regarding Ershed-na-bhavi have anything to do with this respondent nor they were published either at the instance of this respondent or that of his election agent". The respondent denied making speeches as alleged in para 5 of the petition and stated that the allegations were false and a figment of the imagination of the petitioner. The appellant supported his assertion that he was a candidate of the Muslim League Party and not of the IUML by annexing with his written statement, Form A and Form B, as prescribed by para 13(b) of the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment Order 1968).

26. It transpires from the record that after evidence was led by the parties, the election petitioner filed yet another affidavit on 4.9.1992. In the said affidavit, which was filed after the arguments were over, Mr. Moiuddin G Pasha, who had been described as an election agent in the first affidavit · filed in support of the allegations of corrupt practices along with the election petition, was now described "only as an agent". The avernients 'made in the second affidavit dated 4.9.1992 were stated to be based on "personal knowledge" and not on the basis of 'belief or "information" wilike H in the first affidavit. We .are at a loss to understand as to how the learned y· QUAMARUL ISLAM v. SX KANTA [DR. ANAND, J.) trial judge permitted the filing of an affidavit on 4.9.1992, in support of the A election petition after the arguments were over. It was a novel procedure, unknown to civil law or the election law, and was in direct breach of the statutory provisions contained in the R.P. Act and the rules framed there- under. (See [1972] 3 S.C.R. 955 supra). Such an affidavit, could not have been permitted to be brought on record and we are constrained to say that B the learned trial judge did not apply his mind to the case in a proper and judicial ·sense and took into consideration the second affidavit dated 4.9.1992 while deciding the election petition.

27. It also appears form the record that the returned cnadidate (appellant herein) filed an application, being IA III on 3.4.1992, stating C therein that the election petition was liable to be dismissed for lack of furnishing material facts and material particulars in the election petition. In the application, specific objection was raised with regard to the lack of material facts and material particulars in the election petition and it was asserted that the election petition did not disclose a full cause of action. D That application, however, was decided alongwith the main election peti- tion and rejected on the ground that it was "too late in the day to set the clock back". We also find that when the returned candidate raised objec- tions during the course of recording of evidence to certain "material" being brought on record on the ground that it had not been pleaded in the election petition or that it was not supported by the affidavit filed in E support the allegations of corrupt practice filed alongwith the election petition, the learned trial judge over-ruled the objections. It is interesting to note the court-ruling in this behalf: "Courts Ruling: This tribunal has proceeded to record the p evidence of this witness so far given on the basis of issues • . 2, 3 and 4 which are the corrupt practices covered under 123(2), (3), {3A) and 123( 4). These issues though a burden on the petitioner to prove that the respondent No.1 has committed that he appealed to the religion, caste com- munity or religious symbols to further his prospects and it promote or attempt feelings religion caste, community .etc. Since the evidence of this witness is in accordance with the issues framed in this Election Petition the objections c [1994) 1 S.C.R. of the learned counsel for the respondent is over-ruled".

28. The newspapers referred to and relied upon in the election petition had not been filed along with the election petition. The copies of newspapers and some other documents 'Were filed subsequently and in the accompanying application it was stated by the election petitioner that the same were not available with him earlier. Those documents were filed after the evidence had commenced. The returned candidate (appellant) raised objections to the production of those documents at that late stage. In the affidavit filed in support of the objections, the appellant stated : "3. In the entire Election Petition there is no reference to any of these documents now sought to be produced. 4. On the pleadings, this Hon'ble Court has framed issues which are mainly referable to Section 123 of the Repre- sentation of Peoples' Act. Section 123 of the Act refers to corrupt practice. The statement that the petitioner coul.d not produce the copies of the newspaper as they were not available,. is false. In an Election Petition wherein the allegations relate to corrupt practice the law is clear, in that; Section 83 of the Act provides that the Election Petition should contain a concise statement of facts on which the petitioner relies, and, further that he must also set-forth full particulars of corrupt practice that the petitioner alleges, including as full a statement as possible of the names of the parties alleged to have committed such corrupt practice and .the date and place of each such corrupt practice. The Section is mandatory. The applicatior1 cannot be entertained at all at this late stage. Even now, no facts or circumstances have been mentioned to give even the haziest picture for the basis that the publications were effected for and on behalf of this respondent and with the connivance of this respon- dent. It is submitted that nothing can be rather than truth the copies of the newspapers were not available for a period of nearly two years. That apart, that is not a ground for accepting documents without pleadings in t~e Election Petition at this late stage. QUAM.AR.UL ISLAM v. S.K. KANTA [DR. ANAND, J.) For the reasons stated above, this respondent prays that this Hon'ble Court may be pleased to reject the application, in the interest of justice".

Amongst the documents which the election petitioner sought to produce at that late stage were some advertisements allegedly issued by the IUML B and MYL in the newspapers between 1.11.1989 and 24.11.1989 as also reports of speeches allegedly made by the appellant during the election campaign. The Court dealt with the application and the objections vide its order dated 11th of October 1991. The learned trial judge allowing the application of the election petitioner, observed : 23. "The petitioner has made a reference to these newspapers and this Court also issued summons to the Editor to bring the newspapers maintained in his office in accordace with the Indian Press Act and to give evidence about those newspapers. Due to non-availability of those newspapers, the petitioner has shown the excerpts of those newspapers which were in his possession at the time of filing of this petition and those excerpts were brought to the notice of the witness P.W.4, the Editor of those newspaper and those portions were marked as petitioner's exhibits. The contention of the petition or that these newspapers are produced at this stage due to non-produc- tion by the editor of the said newspaper allowing of these newspapers as documents relied by the petitioner at this stage is justified. The· question of proof contained in the newspaper is the subject matter evidence and at this stage, such contingency does not require a debate. Since PW 4 has failed to produce these documents, the petitioner can lead a secondary evidence under Section of the Indian Evidence Act, if law provides such contingency. 24. What we are concerned at this stage is condoning the late production of documents by the petitioner and ap- preciating the reason assigned for such late production as contemplate under Order 13 Rule 2 of the Code of Civil Procedure. The Judgments of the Supreme Court averted by Sri Mohandas Hegde are not relevant at this stage of c (1994) 1 s~c.R. the case. Since the petitioner has shown sufficient cause for non-produi:tion of these docume~ts, I.A I is liable to be allowed …… "

29. In our opinion, the approach of the trial judge was not correct and it seems that he was treatin~ the trial of the election petitiod in a rather casual manner, unmindful of the provisions of the Act and the Rules framed thereunder as also the law laid down by this Court from time to time on the relevant aspect.

30. The election petitioner filed the first list of witnesses on 21.9.1990. C At serial No.3, the election petitioner summoned "Circle Inspector of Police Gulbarga" : 1."to produce all the original documents pertaining to Muslim League candidate permission granted to Sri Mahamad Ahmed, IUML, Gulbarga bearing permission No.35-89, 54-89 and 70-89 and to give evidence in the matter. 2. to produce the oral complaint registered by the on 24.11.1989 at Roza Police Station". E Again, at serial No.(i) in the further prayer in the same application, the petitioner summoned Shri Prakash Kore Ex. C.I.T.B. Gulbarga H.No.5-589, Chote Roza, near Police Station, Gulbarga, "to produce the original tape recorded ~peech of' Sh. QamalUl Islam". It was in an additional list of witnesses filed on 22.10.1990, that the election petitioner summoned, at serial No.1, Mr. Azizullah, Editor, Publisher & Printer of 'Bahamani News' with the documents mentioned against his name.

At serial No.6 of the additional list dated 22.10.1990, the petitioner also summoned ''Basavaraj Ingini C.P.l. Harnabad, Distt. Bidar to produce all the original documents pertaining to Muslim League candidate – permission granted to public meetings and loud-speaker permission throughout the election period and G produce the recorded speech of Sri Quamarnl Islam in public meeting held at various places and give the evidence". The learned trial judge allowed the summoning of witnesses as contained in the lists dated 21.9.1990 and 22.10.1990 in a totally mechanical manner. The election petitioner was not called upon to explain as to why the name of the editor Shri Azizullah did . H not figure in the first list of witnesses ~r why a departure was made in the second list by summoning Shri Basavaraj Ingini with the tape recorded· A speech of the appellant, when he was not asked to produce any sm:h tape recorded speech in the first list where he had been summoned at serial no.3 and instead it was Mr. Kore, summoned at s.no. (i) in the further prayer in the first list of witnesses who had been directed to produce the tape recorded speech of the appellant. In an election petition the filing of B the list of witnesses, with a brief of the relevance of their evidence is not only intended to put the opposite party on notice about the evidence sought to bP; summoned but also to bind the party to the production of the relevant evidence as detailed in the list. The list of witnesses has a lot of sanctity and importance but in this case, no consideration appears to have been given by the learned trial judge to this aspect and without examining the C two lists, orders came to be made to summon the witnesses in a mechanical manner. The procedure adopted by the learned trial judge was not the proper procedure to be followed while trying an election petition. The list of witnesses are required to be carefully scrutinised before issuance of summons. That apparently was not done in the present case.

31. The allegations of corrupt practice in the election petition, in our opinion, are rather vague. The allegations as noticed in the earlier part of this judgment, are not specific, precise ad clear. Both material facts and particulars have not been supplied with sufficient clarity. The original affidavit filed in support of the election petition and the affidavit filed at E the stage of arguments, with an attempt to bring it in tune with the evidence led in the case, are also not clear and expose the shifting stand of the election petitioner. We have already commented upon the manner in which the list of witnesses were filed and two different witnesses in the different lists were asked to produce the same material object i.e. the tape recorded speech of the appellant. It is, after keeping, in view all these factors that we have to analyse the·evidence led in the case and appreciate the arguments raised at the bar. Indeed, the returned candidate, appellant herein, also did not in the written statement point out the defects in the pleadings or the lack of material facts and material particulars at the earliest stage and both the parties went on to trial despite these defective pleadings.

32. A Constitution Bench of this Court in Ba/wan Singh v. Lakshmi Narain, A.l.R. (1960) S.C. 770, observed : " ….. .Insistence upon full particulars of corrupt practices is c (1994) 1 S.C.R. undoubtedly of paramount importance in the trial of an election petition, but if the parties go to trial despite the. absence of full partieulars of the corrupt practice alleged, and evidence of the contesting parties is· Jed on the plea raised by the petition, the petition cannot thereafter be dismissed for want of particulars, . because the defect is one of procedure and not one of jurisdiction of the Tribunal to adjudicate upon the plea in the absence of particulars. The appellate court may be justified in setting aside the judgment of the Tribunal if it is satisfied that by reason of the absence of full particulrs, material prejudice has resulted …… "

33. Even if the application of the appellant, IA III, seeking dismissal of the election petition may be held to have been rightly rejected on the ground that after the parties had gone to trial, despite the absence of full D facts and particulars of the alleged corrupt practice and had led evidence, an election petition is not liable to be thereafter dismissed for those defects only but in such cases, the evidence that is required to prove the allegations of corrupt practices in an election petition has to be more strictly scrutinised, lest the evidence, which in a way travels beyond the pleadings, is accepted withoutproper analysis.

34. Before we proceed to consider, whether any connection has been established between the Muslim League and IUML or whether the returned candidate can be fastened with the liability for the publication of the advertisements and messages in the newspapers, allegedly got publish- ed by the IUML or MYL, ·we consider it appropriate to deal with the proof of allegations relating to the commission to various corrupt practice, as alleged in the petition.

35. We shall first deal with the allegations with regard to the com- mission of corrupt practice under Section 123( 4) of the Act which are G contained in ground no.10 of the petition and extracted in an earlier part of this judgment. A careful perusal of the allegation shows that it is not even asserted by the election petitioner, that the statement alleged to have been made by the returned candidate on 1.11.1989 about the non-signing of the passport forms was false to the knowledge of the returned candidate H or that he made it without believing that statement to be true. There was, , / QUAMARULISLAM v.S.K.KANTA[DR.ANAND,J.] thus, no allegation whatsoever which satisfied the basic requirements of A Section 123( 4) of the Act. It was not even alleged by the election petitioner that the returned candidate made a statement of fact which was false to his knowledge or which he did not believe to be true and in the absence of any such averment in the election petition and the affidavit filed in support thereof, the trial court should not even have framed an issue B relating to the said corrupt practice.

Even in the evidence, it was not deposed by the election petitioner that the statement allegedly made by the returned candidate as contained in the said paragraph was false to the kilowledge of the returned candidate or/and was made by him without believing it to be true. The learned trial judge, therefore, fell in error in holding that the returned candidate was guilty of committing the corrupt C practice as envisaged by Section 123( 4) of the Act and in fairness to learned counsel for the election petitioner (Respondent-I) we must record that he also did not support the finding of the High Court as regards the commission of corrupt practice under Section 123( 4) of the Act and we accordingly set aside that finding. The evidence of Shri Subhash Chandra D Khutiya, PW2, who was the Deputy Commissioner of Gulbarga District on 27.10.1989 or of Shri Ramarao Patil, PW3, who took· charge of the Cor- poration Commissioner of Gulbarga on 6th of June 1988 and handed over the said charge on 15.6.1990 and was the returning officer in the election held during 1989 relates to other issues which have been found against the election petitioner and with which we are strictly speaking not concerned, E as their correctness has not been assailed before us.

36. Coming now to the allegations regarding commission of corrupt practices under Section 123(2)(3) and (3A) of the Act. Though reading of the full text of the reports and messages/advertisements as published in p Bahmani Newspapers of different dates, which were produced at a rather late stage during the trial, do give rise to an inference that they contain an appeal on the ground of religion and have the tendency to promote or attempt to promote feelings of enmity and hatred between different classes of citizens of India on grounds of religion, community etc. for the fur- therance of prospects of the election of the returned candidate or prejudi- G dally affecting the election of any other candidate and amount to a virulent type of objectionable communal propaganda, not permitted by law and amounts to the commission of corrupt practices as envisaged by Sections 123(2)(3) and (3A) of the Act, but the basic question to which we have to first address ourselves is whether the said publications have been proved H [1994] 1 S.C.'.R. A by any admissible evidence and if so whether they can be connected with the returned candidate or can be said to have been issued by the returned candidate or his election agent or by any other person with the consent of the election agent or the returned candidate himself.

37. The allegations regarding the. commission of these corrupt prac- tices are ~ought to be proved firstly by the production of copies of "Bahamani News", to prove which the election petitioner examined Shri Azizullah Sharmast PW4, the editor and publisher of the Bahmani · Newspaper. c 38. We shall first advert to and deal with the reports relating to the speeches allegedly made by the appellant and his election agent, at Roza Market, Jalanabad and Muslim Chowk on different dates as alleged in the . petition. Admittedly, on his own showing, the said witness Shri Azizullah, PW4 was not present at the time when the speeches were delivered by the D returned candidate at different meetings and the publications in the newspaper were made on the basis of the reports sent by reporter. It is in the evidence of PW4, Azizulla Sharmast, that the reports about the meet- ings were sent to him by the reporter, Mr. Mohd. Feroz who had covered those meetings. Mr. Feroz, however, was not examined by the election petitioner as a witness. Mr. Azizullah, PW4, also did not produce the original reports as sent to him by Mr. Feroz as according to the witness, ·those reports were not preserved. No manuscript of the reports was produced. Can the mere production of the copy of the newspaper be treated as proof of the report of the speech (news item) contained therein? In our opinion the answer has to be in the negative.

39. Newspaper reports by themselves are not evidence of the contents thereof. Those reports are only hearsay evidence. These have to be proved and the manner of proving a newspaper report is well settled. Since, in this · case, neither the reporter who heard the speech and sent the report was examined nor even his reports produced, the production of the newspaper by the Editor and publisher, PW 4 by itself cannot amount to proving the • .. ·contents of the newspaper' reports. Newspaper, is at the best secondary .. evid~nce_ of its contents and is not admissible in evidence without proper proof· of the contents under the Indian Evidence Act. The learned trial judge could not treat the newspaper reports as duly 'proved' only by the H production of the copies of the newspaper. The election petitioner abo QUAMARULISLAf.1 v. S.K. KANTA [DR. ANAND, J.] examined Abrar Razi, PW5, who was the polling agent of the election A petitioner and resident of the localit}' in support of the corectness of the reports including advertisements and messages as published in the said newspaper.

We have carefully perused his testimony and find that his evidence also falls short of proving the contents of the reports of the alleged speeches or the messages and the advertisements, which appeared B in different issues of the newspaper. Since, the maker of the report which formed basis of the publications, did not appear in the court to depose .about the facts as perceived by him, the facts contained in the published reports were clearly inadmissible. No evidence was led by the election petitioner to prove the contents of the messages and the advertisements as the original manuscript of the advertisements or the messages was not C prouced at the trial. No witness came forward to prove the receipt of the manuscript of any of the advertisements or the messages or the publication of the came in accordance with the manscript. There is no satisfactory and reliable evidence on the record to even establish that the same were actually issued by IUML or MYL, ignoring for the time being, whether or D not the appellant had any connection with IUML or MYL or that the same were published by him or with his consent by any other person or published by his election agent or by any other person with the consent of his election agent.

The evidence of the election petitioner himself or of PW4 and PW5 to prove the contents of the messages and advertisements in the newspaper in our opinion was wrongly admitted and relied upon as evidence of the E contents of the statement contained therein.

40. This Court in Laxmi Raj Shetty v. State of Tamil Nadu, [1988] 3 S.C.C. 319 at 346, considered the question of admissibility of the news items appearing in a press report in the Newspaper and opined : "We cannot take judicial notice of the facts stated in a news item being in the nature of hearsay secondary evidence, unless proved by evidence aliunde. A report in a newspaper is only hearsay evidence. A newspaper is not one of the documents referred to in Section 78(2) of the Evidence Act, 1872 which an allegation of fact can be proved. The presumption of genuineness attached under Section 81 of the Evidence Act to a newspaper report cannot be treated as proved of the facts reported therein. It is now well settled that a statement of fact contained in a newspaper is nerely hearsay and, therefore, inadmissible l in evidence in the absence of the maker of the statement appearing in court and deposing to have perceived the fact reported." B In the present case, we find that no legally admissible evidence has been led by the respondent-election petitioner, in proof of the facts contained in the newspaper reports (news items), messages and advertisements. The. appellant, returned candidate, denied tbe making of the offending state- ments. The various newspaper reports, •. Jvertisements and messages, as c published in Bahmani Newspaper cannot be treated as proof of the facts stated therein and cannot be used against the appellant in the absence of any evidence aliunde.

41. The election petitioner also sought to prove the allegations regarding the making of speeches as alleged in the petition and reported D in the newspaper, at Roza Market and Jalanabad, by the appellant, by production of a cassette, Ex.P7, allegedly recorded by PWl Basavaraj Ingini, Circle Inspector of Police, containing the tape recording of the speeches of the appellant, as detailed in para (xi) of the election petition (supra). 42 .. In the said paragraph, reference is made to the speech at Roza market allegedly made by the appellant 8 days prior to the date of poll at about 9.30 p.m. The returned candidate denied to have made any such speech. PWI, Basavaraj Ingini, was working as the Circle Inspector of Police at Gulbarga-City Police Station Gulbarga from 8.8.1988 to 28.5.1990. The cassette was produced by him in the High Court on 12.11.1990 and kept in safe custody by the court. In his deposition at the trial given on 13.11.1990 apart from stating that he had given licence for use of loud- speakers etc. to various candidates including the appellant, he deposed : " ………… .In some places I have recorded the speech made by R-1 in a cassette. The places where the speech made by R- 1 was recorded in Roza market and Jilanabad. I have recorded the speeches as routine of police work. I have produced the cassette, where I recorded the speech in obedience to the summons issued from this court …………………………………….. I had the custody of this Tape after recording the same. Nobody has any access to the Tape …………. " 43 The witness thereafter, went on to say that the voice in the tape was that of the appellant and added : "I was keeping Ex P-7 in my personal safe custody. Ex P-7 was not used by anybody as it was in my custody. (Witness volunteers that he has also not made attempt to listen to the cassette) I do not have the transcript of the speech recorded in Ex P-7.) During the cross exammation, the witness admitted : "I did not inform anybody about the recording of speeches in this Election Campaign.

I have not informed the petitioner about informed the petitioner about record- ing the speech made by R-1. I do not know how the petitioner came to know about my possessing the cassette at Ex. P-7. I have recorded the speeches of various persons in this Election in 5 to 6 cassettes. After recording I did not play these cassettes in my house. I have kept these cassettes m,_a cupboard (Almirah owned by me). I carried the cassettes along with me when I was transferred from Humnabad. The Almirah I referred above had only one key. My wife had no access to the said Almirah. In Ex P-7 two pieces of speeches are recorded at Rozar and Jilanabad. It was not contained full speech but a part of the speech of each place and the Tape was completely used. I recorded the speech from a distance of 100 yards from the place where the Dias kept. I did not find any objectionable statments in the speech of R-1 according to me …….

" c 44. Since, neither the general diary of the police station nor any other material had been produced by the witness we found it necessary, after perusing his evidence, to summon Shri Ingini; as a court witness alongwith H (1994) 1 $.C.R. some record which we considered necessary to do justice between the parties. c 45. Appearing as a court witness in this court, Shri Basavaraj Ingini, PWI, stated that he was maintaining the general diary of the circle (police) station and that he also attended meetings conducted during the last elections of various candidates since maintenance of law and order was a part of his duty. He went on to add that on 15.11.1989, he attended the meeting at about 8 a.m. at J alanabad, addressed by the appellant while on 16.11.1989, he attended the meeting of the returned candidate held at Roza market, where the appellant and some others addressed the meetings and that he tape recorded the speech .. .: of the appellant and other speakers. The witness was then ~onfronted with the general diary (which had been summoned by us) dated 16.11.1989 and 17.11.1989 pertaining fo the meet- ings held on 15.11.1989 and 16.11.1989 at Roza Market and Jalanabad and he admitted that he did not make any entry in the general diary regarding the tape recording of the speeches of iilc; appellant and others on either D of these dates. He deposed that he had made the tape recordings under oral instructions given to him by the Superintendent of Police, Gulbarga, but conceded that there was no entry in the daily diary with regard to any such oral instructons having been given to him. He went on to add that he had, after tape recording the speeches, informed the Superintendent of Police orally that he had tape recorded the speeches. When asked as to why he had kept the tape recorded cassettes with him and not deposited the same in the police station, since in his earlier deposition at the trial, he had deposed that he had tape recorded the speeches as "routine police work", the witness answered that since "they were not required for official purpose" he kept the same with himself. He was then asked that if they were not required for official purpose "why did you keep the recorded · speech with you"? The Witness answ~red that "it was done casually". The following questions and answers· of the witness, as recorded in this Court, are of significance, to appraciate the credibility of the ace evidence led by the election petitioner regarding the cassette, Ex.P7. "Question: Did you meet Mr·.

S.K. Kanta at any point of time after the election? Answer: Yes. Question: When and in what connection? l QUAMARULISLAM v. S.K. KANTA (DR. ANAND, J.] Answer: Once or twice in law and order problem. Question: After you were transfered from Gulbarga Police Station ………….. . Answer: I did not meet Mr. Kanta after I was transferred from Gulbarga constitutency. Question: Have you made any entry in your General Diary that you tape recorded the speeches of candidates on the instructions of Superintendent of Police and that you are having the tape recorded speeches in your possession? Answer: No . . Question: Did you inform Mr. Kanta that you had tape recorded the speech of Mr. Quamarul Islam and you are c in possessison of the recorded speech? Asnwer: At no point of time I informed Mr. Kanta that I am in possession of the recorded speech. Question: Did he ask you at any point of time that you are in possession of his tape recorded speech?

Answer: No. Question: When did you hand over the recorded speech to the Court and on which date? Answer: I do _not remember; it may be 12th or 13th. Question: Did you inform Mr. Kanta that you were in possession of the tape recorded speech?' Answer: No." 46. The witness, when further questioned, stated that he was ap- pointed as a direct recruit sub-inspector and was promoted to the rank of Inspector of Police in 1981 and that he had known Mr. Kanta intimately for about 10-12 years prior to the said election as they hail from the same village. He asserted that he had not informed Mr. Kanta at any point of H time that he had even attended the meeting of the appellant. The witness added that both the tape recorded and the tapes (cassettes) were his personal property and that "I have not informed anyone that I have recorded (the tape recorded) speech of Quamarul Islam or that I was keeping the same with me". To a specific questions by the Court: "Therefore we take it. that you have not informed anyone . that you recorded the tape recorded speech under the instructions of S.P.

Answer: Yes."· The witness was then asked by the Court: "Question: Did you inform the Court when you were examined as a witness in the election petition that you · have not made any entry in your general diary about the recording of the speech or that was on the oral instructions of the S.P.". "Answer: No. For the first time before the Supreme Court I am coming with an explanation that the speech was recorded under the oral instsructions of Superintendent of Police because I was not asked earlier any such question as to under whose instuctions I tape recorded the speech". The Court then asked him whether he had at the trial stated before the trial court that he had recorded the speeches as a "routine police work?" and he replied in the affirmative. He was then questioned : "Question: Therefore this question was asked to why the (speeches) was recorded? Answer: Yes, I was asked. Question: Even then you did not come forward. with an explanation that you tape recorded the speech under the oral instructions of Superintendent of Police.

Answer: No." H During his cross examination on behalf of the appellant by Mr. Sibal, t~e —1 ——– _..{ witness admitted that when the Superintendent of Police gave him oral A instructions to record the speeches of candidate whether the S.P. had enquire~ iHhe appellant was in need of a tape recorded for the purpose and the witness replied in the affirmative. He was then asked : "Question: Therefore you believed that the instructions were official instructions? Answer: Yes". The witness was then asked whether he had made any entry about attend- ing t~ meeting of the appellant at Roza Market in the daily diary and after c referring to the daily diary relating to 16.11.1989, written on 17.11.1989, the witness admitted that "I have not mentioned Roza Market speech of Quamarul Islam" in the daily diary report for the relevant date. The witness when further questioned deposed that after his transfer from Gulbarga police station, he had carried the tape recorded cassettes along D with the tape recorder with him and had kept the cassettes in the almirah at his residence alongwith his other cassettes and contrary to what he had stated before the trial judge, admitted that "my wife and children had access to the almirah only in which the cassettes were kept but they were to use only music cassettes". 47. We have carefully perused the relevant pleadings, the deposition of Shri Ingini at the trial, the testimony of the election petitioner and the deposition of Shii Ingini as a court witness. It appears rather strange to us that on oral orders of the Superintendent of Police, Shri Basavaraj Ingini, PWl, Circle Inspector should have used his own tape recorder and tape F recorded the speeches at various meetings of different candidates on his personal cassettes and thereafter on his transfer ·from Gulbarga police station taken all those cassettes with him and kept then in his own safe custody in an almirah, though the same were not required for any "official purpose". Sh. Ingini has been unable to explain either before the trial judge G or before us as to why he was 'preserving' all those cassettes and for whose bem . .tit. There are not only many loose ends in his evidence but certain glairing features which cast serious doubts on the credibility of this witness and the election petitioner regarding the recording of the speeches of the appellant in cassette, Ex.P7. In his statement made at the trial, Sh. Ingini categorically stated that the recorded tape were kept by him in his "per- H A sonal custody" and that nobody else including his wife had any access to the same, but appearing as a court witness, he conceded that his wife and children also had access to those cassettes but went on to add that they were to listen only to the music cassettes. According to Shri Ingini, he knew Shri Kanta, the election petitioner intimately for the past more than 10/12 c years, as they belong to the same village and that they had been visiting each other. The election peitioner, appearing as PW6 at the trial, however, categorically stated "/ do not know PWJ Basavaraj Ingini at all". According to Shri Ingini, he did not inform Shri Kanta or anyone else, except the S.P. orally that he had tape-recorded the speeches and that he did not inform anyone that he was having the recorded cassettes in his possession and that after recording the cassette, he had not replayed it even to hear it. The election petitioner – respondent No.l, at the trial when questioned as to how he came to know about the tape recorded cassette which had been summoned by him from the witness, answered: " ……

I do not know PWl Basavaraj Ingini. As per the information that police will generally make Tape record- ing of the speeches, I came to know the recording. Question: Who gave the information regarding the Tape recording? Answer: I came to know by general information. I cannot say which person on which date and at what time informed me about this tape recording. I was aware about the general information of recording the speeches of Tape recording at the time of my filing of Election Petition. I did not take any efforts to get at that cassette. I did not make any mention in my Election Petition in resp_ect of this tape recording. It is not correct to suggest that 'even though I was aware of the existence of a tape, I did not mention in my Petition" deliberately. The election petitioner – respondent no.1 then stated that "I did not hear the said cassette completely before filing the petition" implying thereby that he had .'partially' heard the cassette before the same was played in the High Court. From the evidence of Basavaraj lngini, PWl, and the election H · petitioner, we find that the story regarding the recording of the cassette Ex.P7 by Shri Ingini is shrouded in mystry and the cassette. Ex.P7 appears A to be a piece of evidence on which reliance cannot be placed since the very basis as to how it came to be recorded and why it was preserved or how the election petitioner came to know about it, has not been explained by the election petitioner and has been further confused by Basavaraj Ingini, appearing as a court witness. The appellant has denied his voice in the B recorded cassette. In this connection, it is also pertinent to remember that whereas in the list of witnesses initially filed by the election petitioner, he had cited Mr. Kore as the witness from whom the cassette containing the speech of the appellant was sought to be produced even though in the same list the Circle Inspector of Gulbarga police station (Sh. Ingini) had also C been summoned alongwith the record but not the tape recorded cassette. It was only in the second list of witnesses, that the election petitioner sought the production of the cassette from Shri Basavaraj Ingini, who he again cited as a witness notwithstanding the fact that he had already summoned the said witness in the first list of witnesses. Is it that Mr. Kore had refused to oblige the election petitioner and therefore Mr. Ingini, who knew the D election petitioner intimately for 10-12 years and hailed from his village, was thought of as a convenient witness to produce the recorded cassette? We are only left to guess, because the election petitioner has not advanced any explanation for the meaningful departure between th.e two lists of witnesses. Since, cassette Ex.P7 was only a piece of evidence, the non E mention of the same in the pleadings may not be of much consequence in so far as the petition is concerned because evidence is not required to be pleaded, but then it was an obligation on the part of the election petitioner to explain as to how in the first list of witnesses, the cassette which was summoned from Mr. Kore was later on summoned from Shri Ingini and F what made the election petitioner to think that the cassette had been preserved and even taken away by Shri Ingini from Gulbarga, after his transfer and retained in his safe custody at his new place of posting. No explanation has been offered at all by the witnesses or their learned counsel. According to Basavaraj Ingini, PWl, after he had recorded the cassette, he did not play it at all till he appeared in the court as a witness G during the trial.

He categorically asserted that nobody had heard the cassette before the filing of the petition nor had he disclosed about recording of the same to anyone, except orally to the Superintendent of Police, yet, the election petitioner admitted during his cross examination that he had heard the cassette before the filing of the petition but when H [1994) 1 S.C.R. confronted as to why he had not mentioned about it in the election petition he stated that "he did not have any knowledge about the cassette' and later on added that he had not completely heard it. When, where and from whom did the election petitioner obtain the recorded cassette to hear it partially? There is no explanation on the record about it. The manner in c which cassette Ex.P7, came into existence and was produced at the trial and relied upon by the election petitioner has created an impression on · our minds that the election petitioner has not come out with the true story. The evidence of the Circle Inspector Basavraj lngini and the election petitioner regarding the recording of the speeches of the appellant at Roza Market and Jalanabad is not at all satisfactory convincing or trustworthy. The denial of the election petitioner that he even knew Shri lngini, when according to Shri Ingini both of them hail from the same village and had known each other intimately for the last 10-12 years is an obvious effort on the part of the election petitioner to project total absence of any liaison between the two and to show that Shri Ingini is an independent witness. It detracts so materially from the testimony of the election petitioner regard- ing the story of the cassette Ex.P7, that it would not be safe to accept the version of the petitioner or Sh. Ingini about the tape recording of the speeches allegedly made by the appellant. 48. The learned trial judge fell in error, even without goinginto the question of the admissibility of cassette Ex.P7, which, has been seriously disputed by Mr. Sibal in view of the denial by the returned candidate that the voice in the cassette was his, to rely upon this piece of evidence and to hold on the basis thereof, that the appellant was guilty of committing the corrupt practices covered by Sections 123(2), (3), (3A) of the Act. We find ourselves unable to rely on eassette Ex.P7 or to hold that it was recorded in the manner and at the time and place as deposed to by the election petitioner and Shri Ingini. The casettee Ex.P7 is not a reliable piece of evidence and we rule it out of consideration for determining whether the appellant delivered the speeches at Jalanabad and in Roza Market as alleged by the election petitioner. 49. So far as the speech of the returned candidate at Roza market is concerned, the election petitioner also made an effort to prove the same by stating that he was himself present when the said speech was made and that he had heard the appellant say all that which has been published in H the "Bahmani Newspaper" and extracted in the election petition. PW5 has ·y QUAMARULISLAM v. S.K. KANTA[DR.ANAND,J.J supported the election petitio~er in that behalf. We have perused the A testimony of the election petitioner and find that his claim that he had attended the meeting at Roza Market rather difficult to accept because at that point of time the election fever must have been at its highest pitch and the election petitioner busy with his own election propaganda. The deposi- tion of the election pertiti~ner, during cross examination with regard to his B attending the Roza Market speech is interesting.

He stated : "I have attended the Meeting at the Roza Market area at about 8 or 8-15 p.m. I have made notes of some matters in that Meeting. I have also noted the exact words used by Respondent No.1 in that Meeting. I have not produced the said notes in the Court. The extract of the speech shown at para 11 of my Petition is on the basis of my memory and the notes. I have not stated in my Petition about notes made by me of that Meeting. I cannot say in the Report extracted at para 11 which part of the Report is made out of my memory and how much by my notes …… " c Thus, according to the election petitioner's own showing he allegedly prepared some notes containing "the exact words used by respondent no.1". E Those notes, however, were not produced by the election petitioner either with the election petition or during the trial at any point of time. Even otherwise, it appears rather strange that a contesting candidate would, shortly before the date of poll be spending time to attend the election meeting of the rival candidate instead of working for his own election and F not only that but even prepare notes of the speech of the rival candidate' in the exact words used "by the candidate".

We find it difficult to accept this version or rely upon the same as it belies normal human conduct. The non-production of the notes by the election petitioner and the doubtful nature of cassette Ex.P7, impels us not to accept the version of the election petitioner on this aspect of the case. It is also noteworthy that even the G application for holding the meeting at Roza Market, Ex.Pl, dated 16.11.1992, had been made on behalf of IUML and signed by Mahmood Ahmed, Secretary IUML and not by the returned candidate or by his election agent and no connection has been alleged, much less established between the said Mahmood Ahmed and the appellant. In the general diary H (1994] 1 S.C.R. of the police, there is no mention of the appellant having delivered any speech at Roza Market on the relevant date and it was admitted by Sh. Ingini that the diary contained no entry of the relevant date evidencing the holding of any meeting by the appellant at Roza Market.

Thus, we find that no reliable evidence has at all been led by the election petitioner to prove,.. c the holding of the meeting at Roza Market, as alleged in the petition, by the returned candidate or about the contents of the alleged speech made by him. No witness of the locality was examined to substantiate the charge levelled in the election petition. The evidence on the record is not reliable or trustworthy to hold that the appellant delivered the off ending speech as alleged in Roza Market which may come within the mischief of Sections 123(2), (3), (3A) of the Act or to hold the appellant guilty of committing the alleged corrupt practices. 50. According to the election petitioner, the returned candidate also delivered an offensive speech at J alanabad; the substratum whereof has already been extracted by us from the petition. In the election petition, apart from specifically mentioning that a speech was made by the appellant at Roza Market, there is no specific mention of any speech having been delivered by the appellant at J alanabad.

The use of the expression at "several places" besides Roza Market, in the petition where the meetings were allegedly held appears to have been designedly made by the election petitioner to lead evidence in respect of such other places for which evidence could be subsequently procured. In the pleadings specific refer- ence to the speech by the appellant was made only of Roza Market and not either of Jalanabad or Muslim Chowk. The learned trial judge should not have permitted any evidence to be led in respect of the meetings allegedly held at Jalanabad or Muslim Chowk. A novel procedure appears to have been adopted by the learned trial judge in over-ruling the objection ., raised on behalf of the returned candidate during the cross examination in this respect by holding that since the evidence was in accordance with the issues", the objections had no merit. In the face of vague pleadings and the G absence of specific mention of J alanabad as a place where the appellant spoke at a meeting, the .doubtful nature of cassette, Ex.P7, containing the tape recorded speech allegedly delivered at J alanabad and the absence of any other evidence to support the plea, we hold that the election petitioner has miserably failed to discharge the burden which lay on him to prove that H the returned candidate had committed the corrupt practice as alleged in QUAMARULISLAM v. S.K. KANTA [DR. ANAND, J.] the petition of delivering the offending speech at Jallanabad or at Roza A Market. The averments of the electiop petitioner were so vague that it left a wide scope to the election petitioner to adduce evidence inrespect of a meeting at any place, on any date, that he found convenient or for which he could procure evidence later on. In view of the vague pleadings and defective affidavits, the court would require much better type of evidence, B absolutely reliable in character, in proof of the alleged meeting where off ending speeches were delivered by the appellant, than the evidence as has been produced by the election petitioner in this case. There is, no reliable, trustworthy or satisfactory evidence on the record to hold that the appellant delivered the speeches as alleged by the election petitioner either C at Roza Market or at J alanabad. 51. As already noticed, even if, it be assumed for the sake of argu- ment that some of the advertisements and messages published in the newspapers, the contents whereof have not been proved for the reasons already given, do bring home the charge of committing the corrupt prac- D tices as envisaged by Sections 123(2), (3), (3A) of the Act, the election petitioner has failed on facts, to connect the returned candidate with the commission of the alleged corrupt practices either by himself or through his election agent or by any other agent or person with his consent or with the consent of his election agent through any admissible and reliable E evidence. The learned trial judge was, therefore, not justified to set aside the election of the appellant on the basis of inadmissible and unreliable evidence. We are unable to accept the reasoning or the conclusions reached by the High Court. 52. We are conscious of the fact that there is an increase of electoral malpractices of which making an appeal on the ground of religion or attempting to create or promote feelings of enmity or hatred between different classes of citizens of India on grounds of religion, caste, com- munity etc. or of exercising undue influence, directly or indirectly with the free exercise of the electoral rights of the citizens, are examples and that G . the purity of electioq which is an essence of democracy is under a threat of erosion on account of such ·malpractices and while acting within the bounds of law, the courts owe a duty to the nation to see that such objectionable assaults wounding the purity of elections during the election propoganda are not allowed to go unpunished, but the courts can only act H [1994) lS.C.R. on the evidence led in the case and not on what ought to have been led. c 53.

A Constitution Bench of this Court in Ziyauddin Burhanuddin Bukhari v. Brijmohan Ramdass Mehra, [1975) Supp. S.C.R. 281, cautioned: " …… Our political hist~ry made it particularly necessary that the basis of religion, race, caste, community, culture, creed and language which could generate powerful emo- tions depriving people of their powers of rational action should not be permitted to be exploited lest the imperative conditions for preservation of democratic freedoms were distrubed. Section 123(2), and (3) and (3A) was enacted to eliminate from the electoral process appeals to those divisive factors which arouse irrational passions that run counter to the basic tenets of our Constitution. Due respect for the religious beliefs and practices, race, creed culture and language of other citizens is one of the basic postulates of our democratic system …… " and we respectfully reiterate the caution. 54.

The reading of the newspaper 'Bahamani News' as produced in this case alongwith the advertisements and messages published therein on behalf of IUML and MYL if established, by trustworthy and reliable evidence to have been made by the returned candidate or by his election agent or by his agent or any other person with the consent of the returned candidate or his election agent, would have in all probabilities brought his case within the net of the commission of the corrupt practices, as alleged in the petition, but in this case the pleadings are so vague and the evidence so scanty, unsatisfactory and unreliable, besides being partly inadmissible, that it is not possible to connect the appellant, the returned candidate or his election agent with any of the corrupt practices alleged in the petition. We are constrained to observe that the High Court before invalidating the G election and upsetting the verdict of the electorate, in its zeal to maintain purity of elections, ignored not only the defects in the pleadings in the election petition but also failed to analyse the evidence in its proper perspective and even relied upon such evidence as is not admissible in law. 55.

The maintenance of purity of elections is indeed essential but ·the ···~ –"( QUAMARUL ISLAM v. S.K KANTA [DR. ANAND, J.] court must be clear in its approach and appreciate that the proof of A commission of corrupt practices must be clear, cogent, specific and reliable as the charge of a corrupt practice is almost like a criminal charge and the one who brings forth that charge has the obligation to discharge the onus of proof by leading reliable, trustworthy and satisfactory evidence. The learned trial judge appears to have lost sight of the above ~alutory prin- ciples of election law. 56. Though a number of judgments were cited at the bar, both on the question of defective pleadings and the requirements of proving allega- tions of making an appeal on the grounds of religion or exercising or attempting to exercise undue influence on the free exercise of the electoral C right by the voters, we do not think it necessary to deal with any of those judgments as we have, found on facts, that the election petitioner has failed to prove the allegations made by him against the returned candidate. May be, the appellant in this case did make appeals as alleged in the petition, but his election cannot be set aside on mere probabilities but only if the D allegations of the corrupt practice, as alleged in the petition, are satisfac- torily proved by trustworthy, reliable and admissible evidence, which in the instant case is found hopelessly wanting. Since, we have decided this appeal on analysis of the evidence on facts, we have not thought it necessary to deal with the submissions as regards the connection of the appellant, if any, E with IUML or MYL or whether cassette Ex.P7 could be admitted in evidence. 57. Before parting with the judgment, we would also like to observe that the procedure followed by the trial judge during the trial of the election petition has left much to be desired. The provisions of the Act and the rules framed thereunder as also the provisions of the Code of Civil Procedure for production of documents and filing of the list of witnesses etc. were not kept in view and the trial was conducted in a very causal manner. We were informed during the course of the arguments, by learned counsel for both sides that the High Court has not framed any Rule for G trial of the election petitions. We are surprised. If that be so, we request the Chief Justice of the High Court to look into it and frame Rules for proper trial of election petitions. 58. The result of our above discussion is that the judgment of the H (1994] 1 S.C.R. High Court declaring the election of the appellant from Gulbarga Assemb- ly Constituency . to be void cannot be sustained. This appeal, therefore, succeeds and is allowed and as a consequence the election petition filed by Respondent No.1 in the High Court is dismissed. The appellant shall be entitled to costs which are assessed at Rs.10,000 payable by the election B petitioner-Respondent No.1. G.N. Appeal allowed..