Election Law Project
Election Law Project
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I would like to convey my heartfelt gratitude to Ms. NEHMAT for giving me opportunity to
do this project work “JURISDICTION OF HIGH COURT UNDER ART. 226 OF INDIAN
CONSTITUTION”.
I would also like to thank my friends who helped and supported me in completion of this
project. The completion of the project would not have been possible without their help and
insights.
Padma Lhadol
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
1.- INTRODUCTION
2.- ARTICLE 226 OF INDIAN CONSTITUTION
3.- ARTICLE 243-O OF CONSTITUTION OF INDIA
4. ART. 226 Vis-à-vis 243-O IN RESPECT TO JUDICIAL REVIEW
5.- CRITICAL ANALYSIS
6.- CONCLUSION
7.- REFERENCES
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INTRODUCTION
The judiciary in India is vital to democracy because it not only prevents government officials
from misusing their powers but also safeguards the rights of citizens and guards the Indian
Constitution. As a result, India’s Constitution envisions a powerful, independent, and well-
organised judiciary.
Articles 32 and Article 226 provide the Supreme Court and the High Courts the authority to
bring a lawsuit against a government entity if any citizen’s rights and freedoms are violated.
The High Court has broad powers to issue orders and writs to any person or authority under
Article 226 of the Indian Constitution. Before a writ or an order may be issued, the party who
is petitioning the court must prove that he has a right that is being violated or endangered
illegally. If the cause of action partly arises within its jurisdiction, the High Court can issue
writs and directives to any Government, authority, or person even if they are located beyond
its jurisdiction.
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Enshrined under Part V of the Constitution of India, Article 226 provides the High Courts
with the power to issue writs, including writs in the form of habeas corpus, mandamus,
prohibition, quo warranto, certiorari, or any of them, to any person or authority, including the
government. Article 226 of the Indian Constitution gives High Courts the power and ability
to enforce any of the basic fundamental rights guaranteed by Part III of the Constitution of
India, 1949, or for any other reason.
In Bandhua Mukti Morcha v. the Union of India (1984), it was held that Article 226 has a
much broader scope than Article 32, as it gives the High Courts the power to issue orders,
directions, and writs not only for the enforcement of fundamental rights but also for the
enforcement of legal rights that are granted to the disadvantaged by statute and are just as
important as the fundamental rights.
In Veerappa Pillai v. Raman and Raman Limited (1952), it was held that the writs referred
to in Article 226 were clearly intended to enable the High Court to issue them in cases where
subordinate bodies or officers act without jurisdiction, or in excess of jurisdiction, or in
violation of natural justice principles, or refuse to exercise a jurisdiction vested in them, or
there is an obvious error on the face of the record, and such act, omission, error, or excess has
resulted in injustice. Regardless of how broad the jurisdiction is, it does not appear to be
sufficiently broad or large to allow the High Court to turn it into a Court of Appeal and
evaluate for itself the accuracy of the contested decisions and determine what is the right
position to be taken or the order to be issued.
In Common Cause v. the Union of India (2018), the Hon’ble Supreme Court stated that the
High Court has been given the power and jurisdiction to issue appropriate writs in the nature
of mandamus, certiorari, prohibition, quo warranto, and habeas corpus for the enforcement of
fundamental rights or for any other purpose under Article 226 of the Constitution. As a result,
the High Court can issue relief not only for the enforcement of fundamental rights but also for
“any other reason,” which might include the enforcement of public responsibilities by public
authorities.
Any question of fact need not be entertained by the High Court under extraordinary writ
jurisdiction. The High Court can dismiss a writ when facts are contested and disagreed by
parties. However, such a perspective would not be easily overturned if the High Court is
really of the opinion that the substance of the disagreement justifies the use of its writ
jurisdiction
Article 226 Vis-a- Vis Article 243-O in Respect of the limitation in exercise
of Judicial Review by the Courts in Election Matters
Article 243-O of the Constitution of India mandates that all election disputes must be
determined only by way of an election petition. This by itself may not per se bar judicial
review which is the basic structure of the Constitution, but ordinarily such jurisdiction would
not be exercised. There may be some cases where a writ petition would be entertained but in
this case we are not concerned with the said question.
Kauser v. State Election Commission, AIR 2021,The petitioner by way of this instant petition
has challenged the election of Respondent 5 as Member, Block Development Committee,
Misserwala, District Sirmour in the elections to Panchayati Raj Institutions of the State
concluded in January 2021. The writ petition has been filed seeking that the respondent
election commission may be directed to start the fresh election and declare the election under
challenge as null and void.
The issue before the High Court is the maintainability of writ petitions under Article 226 of
the Constitution of India vis-à-vis Article 243-O of the Constitution of India in respect of
limitation in exercise of judicial review by the Court in election matters.
Section 162 of the H.P. Panchayati Raj Act provides that no election under the Act shall be
called in question except by an election petition presented in accordance with the provisions
of the chapter and Section 175 of the Act enumerates the grounds for declaring election to be
void.
The Court stated “We are also conscious of the limitations set forth on such exercise of
judicial review in view of bar of jurisdiction imposed by Article 243-O of the Constitution
of India”
The Court thus held that “the instant writ petition is not maintainable at all and the same is
accordingly dismissed with liberty reserved to the petitioner to avail appropriate alternate
remedy in accordance with law.”
In the case of Laxmibai v. Collector, Nanded, (2020) 12 SCC 186 wherein it was observed
the maintainability of writ petitions under Article 226 of the Constitution of India vis-a-vis
Article 243-O of the Constitution of India in respect of limitation in exercise of judicial
review by the Court in election matters, it was held that all election disputes must be
determined only by way of an election petition.
This by itself may not per-se bar judicial review, which is the basic structure of the
Constitution but ordinarily, such jurisdiction would not be exercised. The relevant paragraphs
of the judgment are extracted hereinafter:
“It is true that the High Court exercises a plenary jurisdiction under Article 226 of the
Constitution of India. Such jurisdiction being discretionary in nature may not be exercised
inter alia keeping in view of the fact that an efficacious alternative remedy is available
therefore”
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CRITICAL ANALYSIS
• Article 243-O brings away the Power of Constitutional Court i.e. Power of judicial
review of High Court provided under Article 226 of the Constitution of India. Power to
amend the basic structure lies with the sovereign i.e. the People of India, not with the
Parliament, a creature of the Constitution. Article 243-O thus not valid as it hits the
basic structure of the Constitution of India.
• Article 243-O of the Constitution of India mandates that all election disputes must be
determined only by way of an election petition. This by itself may not per se bar
judicial review which is the basic structure of the Constitution, but ordinarily such
jurisdiction would not be exercised. There may be some cases where a writ petition
would be entertained but in this case we are not concerned with the said question.
• Article 243 O was added by 73rd amendment and hence subject to judicial review and
can be examined for its validity on the principle of basic structure. The Article fails to
qualify the test of basic structure of the Constitution and deserves to be treated
accordingly.
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CONCLUSION
The High Court though exercises extraordinary jurisdiction under Article 226 of the
Constitution of India but such jurisdiction is discretionary in nature and may not be
exercised in view of the fact that an efficacious alternative remedy is available and
more so exercise restraint in terms of Article 243-O of the Constitution of India. Once
alternate machinery is provided by the statute, the recourse to writ jurisdiction is not
an appropriate remedy. It is a prudent discretion to be exercised by the High Court not
to interfere in the election matters, especially after declaration of the results of the
elections but relegate the parties to the remedy contemplated by the statute. In view of
the above, the writ petition should not have been entertained by the High Court.
However, the order of the High Court that the appellant has not furnished the election
expenses incurred on the date of election does not warrant any interference.
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REFERENCES
• https://redlaw.in/maintainability-of-writ-petition-article-226
• https://www.scconline.com/blog/post/2021/02/13/hp-hc-whether-a-dispute-relating-
to-an-election-of-a-local-body-maintainable-before-high-court-under-art-226-of-
constitution-of-india-hc-explains-in-light-of-settled-position-of-law/
• https://testbook.com/question-answer/articles-243-243o-of-the-constitution-of-india-
d...
• https://www.legalbites.in/jurisdiction-of-high-courts-in-india
• https://www.academia.edu/20099082/Art_243_O_of_the_Constitution_of_India_and_
the_Basic_Structure_of_The_Constitution_A_Critical_Analysis