M.C.Jacob
Vs. A.Narayanan & Ors. [2009] INSC 503 (6 March 2009)
Judgment
IN THE
SUPREME COURT OF INDIA CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION Civil Appeal No. 3611 OF
2008 M. J. Jacob ...........Appellant Versus A. Narayanan & Ors.
........Respondents WITH
Civil Appeal Nos. 5774/2008, 5783/2008
MARKANDEY
KATJU, J.
1.
These appeals have been filed under Section 116 A of the
Representation of People Act, 1951 (in short `the Act'), against the final
judgment and order dated 5.5.2008 passed by the High Court of Kerala in
Election Petition No. 2/2006, declaring the election of the appellant (M.J.
Jacob) from no.79 Piravom Legislative Assembly Constituency to be a member of
Kerala Legislative Assembly, the polling for which was held on 29.4.2006, as
void. The High Court has also made an order recording the names of O.N. Vijayan
(election agent of the returned candidate) and two others Jinson V. Paul and
P.G. Manu as persons who have been proved at the trial to have been guilty of
corrupt practice under Section 123 (4) of the Act of preparing, publishing and
distributing the pamphlet (Ex.P1). C.A. No.3611 of 2008 is by the returned
candidate. C.A. No.5183 of 2008 is by his election agent and C.A. No.5774 of
2008 is filed by the persons named under Section 99(1)(a)(ii) of the Act.
2.
Heard Shri Fali Nariman, learned Senior Advocate assisted by Ms.
Malini Poduval and Vishnu B. Saharia for the appellants, and Shri K.K.
Venugopal, learned Senior Advocate assisted by Ms. Bina Madhavan for the
respondents. The impugned judgment was passed on an Election Petition
challenging the election of the appellant M.J. Jacob as an MLA for the Kerala
Legislative Assembly in the polling held on 29.4.2006. The High Court by the
impugned judgment has declared the said election to be void on the ground that
the appellant was guilty of corrupt practice under Section 123 (4) of the
Representation of People Act, 1951 (in short "the Act").
3.
The Election Petition in question was filed by a voter in the
election and not a candidate.
4.
The ground on which the Election Petition was allowed was that a
corrupt practice was committed by the publication of the pamphlet Ext. P1 and
that such a publication has been made by the appellant's election agent, one
Shri O.N. Vijayan (RW1), and by two other persons (RW2 and RW3) with the
consent of the appellant or his election agent, that the statement of facts in
Ext. P1 was made in relation to the personal character or conduct of PW-30 Shri
T.M. Jacob, who was a candidate in the said election, which is false and which
the publisher of Ext. P1 either believes to be false or does not believe to be
true, and that such statement was reasonably calculated to prejudice the
prospects of Shri T.M Jacob PW 30 in the election. Hence it was prayed that the
election be declared to be void under Section 100 (1) (b) of the Act r/w
Section 123 (4) thereof. Though in the election petition, it was contended that
several statements in Ext.P1 amounted to false statements in relation to the
personal character and conduct of Shri T.M. Jacob, in this appeal, we are
concerned with only one allegation, viz., question No.2 posed to Shri T.M.
Jacob in Ext.P1.
5.
Section 123(4) of the Representation of the People Act states that
the following is one of the corrupt practices :
"The
publication by a candidate or his agent or by any other person with the consent
of a candidate or his election agent of any statement of fact which is false,
and which he either believes to be false or does not believe to be true, in
relation to the personal character or conduct of any candidate, or in relation
to the candidature, or withdrawal, of any candidate, being a statement
reasonably calculated to prejudice the prospects of that candidate's
election."
6.
The entire pamphlet Ext. P-1 has been quoted in the impugned judgment,
but it is not necessary to repeat the same here except the relevant allegation
in the said pamphlet which is in paragraph 2 which states :- CHARIOT RIDE OF
DEVELOPMENT TRICKERY WITH THE RIDDLES OF A QUARTER CENTURY.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"2. A member of your personal staff who had attempted to murder
Thirumaradi Congress Mandalam president P.J. Baby, Joseph Babu and K.P. Jacob
at Onakoor is still continuing as an absconder. Can you give an answer to the
ordinary Congressmen in this regard?"
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
RECOGNIZE THE SHAMELESS HYPOCRITE OF DEVELOPMENT TRICKERY REACT AGAINST THE
DECEIVER OF PEOPLE.
7.
It is on the basis of this statement in the said pamphlet Ext. P1
that the election of the appellant has been declared void by the High Court on
the ground that it amounts to a corrupt practice. The High Court has held:-
"The foregoing discussions and reasons lead to the following conclusions:
i.
Question no.2 in page 3 of Ext.P1 amounts to a statement of facts affecting the
personal character and conduct of Shri T.M. Jacob. The said statement in Ext.P1
is false.
ii. The
tail-piece of Ext.P1, namely, the exhortation to `recognize the shameless
hypocrite of development trickery..........react against the deceiver of the
people.......' amounts to a statement of facts affecting the personal character
and conduct of Shri T.M. Jacob in the setting in which it is placed, referable
to Question no.2 in page 3 of Ext.P1.
iii. The
publication of Ext.P1 containing the aforesaid statements has been made by the
respondent, he having owned up the responsibility of the said publication by
having its expenditure met by making payment through his election agent and
showing such expenditure as an expenditure incurred by him in the return filed
under Section 77 of the Act and by RW1, the election agent of the respondent
and RW2 and RW3.
iv.
Publishers of Ext.P1, namely, the respondent and RW1, his election agent and
those who were involved in the preparation, publication and distribution of
Ext.P1, namely, RWs 2 and 3, had no reason to believe that the aforesaid
statements are true and had every reason to believe that they are false. v. The
aforesaid statements made in Ext.P1, were reasonably calculated to prejudice
the prospects of Shri T.M. Jacob in the election.
8.
We fail to see how the aforesaid statement in the said pamphlet
amounts to a corrupt practice. There are two allegations in the said paragraph
2. Firstly, that a member of the personal staff of Shri T.M. Jacob had
attempted to murder some persons. According to the evidence, this statement was
regarding one Shri Scaria who was on the personal staff of Shri T.M. Jacob when
he was a Minister. Admittedly, there is no dispute that the said Shri Scaria
was an accused in the aforesaid murder case and in fact a charge sheet had been
filed by the Police. The second part of the said statement in paragraph (2) is
that Shri Scaria is absconding. There is a serious dispute between the parties
whether this statement is correct or not, but even if it is incorrect we fail to
understand how this would make the said allegation a corrupt practice for the
purposes of the Act.
9.
Shri K.K Venugopal, learned counsel for the respondent submitted
that in fact this statement that Shri Scaria was an absconder in the said
criminal case of attempt to murder meant that Shri T.M Jacob was harbouring
Shri Scaria when the latter was absconding. He referred to the evidence of
several witnesses to support his contention. We do not agree.
There is
no mention in paragraph (2) of the pamphlet that Shri T.M. Jacob was harbouring
Shri Scaria.
10.
Even assuming that an inference can be drawn from the allegation
that Shri T.M. Jacob was harbouring Shri Scaria, that is only one possible
inference. There may be any number of other inferences also. It is well settled
that in an Election Petition for proving an allegation of corrupt practice the
standard of proof is like that in a criminal case. In other words, the
allegation must be proved beyond reasonable doubt, and if two views are
possible then the benefit of doubt should go to the elected candidate vide
Manmohan Kalia vs. Yash & Ors. (1984) 3 SCC 499 vide paragraph 7 in which
it is stated :- "It is now well settled by several authorities of this
Court that an allegation of corrupt practice must be proved as strictly as a
criminal charge and the principle of preponderance of probabilities would not
apply to corrupt practices envisaged by the Act because if this test is not
applied a very serious prejudice would be caused to the elected candidate who
may be disqualified for a period of six years from fighting any election, which
will adversely affect the electoral process."
11.
In Razik Ram vs. Jaswant Singh Chouhan (1975) 4 SCC 769 vide
paragraphs 15 and 16 it was observed:- "Before considering as to whether
the charges of corrupt practice were established, it is important to remember
the standard of proof required in such cases. It is well settled that a charge
of corrupt practice is substantially akin to a criminal charge. The commission
of a corrupt practice entails serious penal consequences. It not only vitiates
the election of the candidate concerned but also disqualifies him from taking
part in elections for a considerably long time. Thus, the trial of an election
petition being in the nature of an accusation, bearing the indelible stamp of
quasi-criminal action, the standard of proof is the same as in a criminal
trial. Just as in a criminal case, so in an election petition, the respondent
against whom the charge of corrupt practice is levelled, is presumed to be
innocent unless proved guilty. A grave and heavy onus therefore, rests on the
accuser to establish each and every ingredient of the charge by clear,
unequivocal and unimpeachable evidence beyond reasonable doubt. It is true that
there is no difference between the general rules of evidence in civil and
criminal cases, and the definition of "proved" in Section 3 of the
Evidence Act does not draw a distinction between civil and criminal cases. Nor
does this definition insist on perfect proof because absolute certainty
amounting to demonstration is rarely to be had in the affairs of life.
Nevertheless, the standard of measuring proof prescribed by the definition, is
that of a person of prudence and practical good sense. "Proof" means
the effect of the evidence adduced in the case. Judged by the standard of a
prudent man, in the light of the nature of onus cast by law, the probative
effect of evidence in civil and criminal proceedings is markedly different. The
same evidence which may be sufficient to regard a fact as proved in a civil
suit, may be considered insufficient for a conviction in a criminal action.
While in the former, a mere preponderance of probability may constitute an
adequate basis of decision, in the latter a far higher degree of assurance and
judicial certitude is requisite for a conviction. The same is largely true
about proof of a charge of corrupt practice, which cannot be established by
mere balance of probabilities, and, if, after giving due consideration and
effect to the totality of the evidence and circumstances of the case, the mind
of the Court is left rocking with reasonable doubt -- not being the doubt of a
timid, fickle or vacillating mind -- as to the veracity of the charge, it must
hold the same as not proved.
We have
reiterated the above principles not as a ceremonial refrain of what has been
said by this Court again and again but to emphasise their importance as a guide
in the matter. A court embarking upon an appreciation of evidence, without this
rudder and compass, is apt to find itself at sea, mistaking every flotsam for
shore, suspicion for proof and illusion for reality. Since these principles
were not constantly kept in mind, the approach of the High Court in this case
to the issues involved, and the treatment of evidence, appears to have gone
awry. It is therefore, necessary to reappraise the evidence from the standpoint
indicated above."
12.
In Surinder Singh vs. Hardial Singh (1985) 1 SCC 91 vide paragraph
23 it was observed:- "It is thus clear beyond any doubt that for over 20
years the position has been uniformly equated with criminal charges and proof
thereof would be not preponderance of probabilities as in civil action but
proof beyond reasonable doubt as in criminal trials..."
13.
The above decision has been followed in Mercykutty Amma vs.
Kadavoor Sivadasan (2004) 2 SCC 217 vide paragraph 27 where it was observed:-
"Allegations of corrupt practices are quasi-criminal charges and the proof
that would be required in the support thereof would be as in a criminal charge.
The charges of corrupt practices are to be equated with criminal charges and
proof thereof would be not preponderance of probabilities as in civil action but
proof beyond reasonable doubt as in a criminal trial."
14.
A basic principle in the law relating to Elections and Election
Petitions is that the mandate of the people as expressed in the election
results should ordinarily be respected by courts, and the election of a
successful candidate should not be lightly set aside vide R.P Moidutty vs. P.
T. Kunj Muhammed (2000) 1 SCC 481 vide paragraph 14 where it was observed:-
"It is basic to the law of elections and election petitions that in a
democracy, the mandate of the people as expressed at the hustings must prevail
and be respected by the courts and that is why the election of a successful
candidate is not to be set aside lightly. A heavy onus lies on the election
petitioner seeking setting aside of the election of a successful candidate to
make out a clear case for such relief both in the pleadings and at the trial.
The mandate of the people is one as has been truly, freely and purely
expressed. The electoral process in a democracy such as ours is too sacrosanct
to be permitted to be polluted by corrupt practices. If the court arrives at a
finding of commission of corrupt practice by a returned candidate or his
election agent or by any other person with the consent of a returned candidate
or his election agent then the election of the returned candidate shall be
declared to be void. The underlying principle is that corrupt practice having
been committed, the result of the election does not echo the true voice of the
people. As the consequences flowing from the proof of corrupt practice at the
election are serious, the onus of establishing commission of corrupt practice
lies heavily on the person who alleges the same. The onus of proof is not
discharged merely on preponderance of probabilities; the standard of proof
required is akin to that of proving a criminal or a quasi-criminal charge.
Clear-cut evidence, wholly credible and reliable, is needed to prove beyond
doubt the charge of corrupt practice."
15.
The same view has been taken by this Court in Mahanth Shreo Nath
vs. Choudhary Ranbir Singh 1970 (3) SCC 647 at Para 4, Manphul Singh vs.
Surinder Singh 1973 (2) SCC 599 at Para 13, Rahim Khan vs. khurshid Ahmed and
Others 1974 (2) SCC 660 at Para 9, Bir Chandra Barman vs. Shri Anil Sarkar and
Others 1976 (3) SCC 88 Para 5, Lakshi Raman Acharya vs. Chandan Singh and
Others 1977 (1) SCC SCC 566 at Para 13.
16.
It may be noted that in Exhibit P-2 there is no statement that
Shri T.M Jacob harboured any of the accused persons. The allegation about the
attempt to murder some persons is not against Shri T.M Jacob but against Shri
Scaria. Hence, we fail to understand how the allegation in paragraph 2 of
Ext.P1 affects the personal character or conduct of Shri T.M. Jacob. In our
opinion, paragraph 2 does not convey to the electorate that Shri T.M. Jacob
harboured a member of his personal staff. Paragraph 2 only speaks about
absconding of a member of the personal staff of Shri T. M. Jacob and not about
the harbouring of a personal staff by Shri T. M. Jacob.
17.
Shri K.K. Venugopal, learned senior counsel appearing for the
respondents, relied upon the decisions of this Court in Mohan Singh vs.
Bhanwarlal 1964 (5) SCR 12, T.K. Gangi Reddy vs. M. C. Anjaneya Reddy 1960 (22)
ELR 261, Jagjit Singh vs. Giani Kartar Singh AIR 1966 SC 773, Inder Lal vs. Lal
Singh 1962 Supp (3) SCR 114, Gadakh Yashwantrao Kankarrao vs. Balasaheb Vikhe
Patil 1994 (1) SCC 682. These are cases where this Court held that
pamphlets/leaflets published and circulated by the elected candidate (or his
agent or by other persons with the consent of the candidate or his election
agent) containing false statements as to the personal character and conduct of
a defeated candidate, reasonably calculated to prejudice the prospects of that
candidate, constituted a corrupt practice under Section 123(4) of the Act and
consequently declared the election of the elected candidate as void.
18.
In Mohan Singh (supra), this Court observed :
"But
in considering whether a publication amounts to a corrupt practice within the
meaning of Section 123(4) the Tribunal would be entitled to take into account
matters of common knowledge among the electorate and read the publication in
that background, for one of the ingredients of the particular corrupt practice
is the tendency of the statement in the publication to be reasonably calculated
to prejudice the prospects of that candidate's election."
`The test
in cases under section 123(4) is whether the imputation beside being false in
fact, is published with the object of lowering the candidate in the estimation
of the electorate and calculated to prejudice his prospects at the election.
And in ascertaining whether the candidate is lowered in the estimation of the
electorate, the imputation made must be viewed in the light of matters
generally known to them."
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
In T.K. Gangi Reddy (supra), referring to the provisions of
Section 123(4), this Court held:
"Do
the aforesaid allegations refer to the personal character and conduct of
Anjaneya Reddy, who was a candidate for the election. The words "personal
character or conduct" are so clear that they do not require further
elucidation or definition. The character of a person may ordinarily be equated
with his mental or moral nature. Conduct connotes a person's actions or behaviour.
The said acts attributed to the first respondent certainly relate to his
personal character and conduct. What is more damaging to a person's character
and conduct than to state that he instigated a murder and that he was guilty of
violent acts in his political career. We, therefore, have no hesitation in
holding that the allegations in the two leaflets, Exts. P3 and P4, are in
relation to the personal character and conduct of the first respondent.
......The leaflets were, therefore, calculated to create an impression in the
minds of the voters not to vote for the first respondent, who was described as
a murderer and a man of bad antecedents. The leaflets, Exts. P-3 and P-4, were,
therefore, in our view, calculated to prejudice the prospects of the first
respondent's election."
20.
In Jagjit Singh (supra), this Court held:
"The
question as to what allegations can be said to amount to allegations in regard
to the personal character of a candidate, as distinguished from the public
character, is not always easy to decide on considerations of abstract
principles. The policy underlying the present provision is that in the matter
of elections, the public and political character of a candidate is open to
scrutiny and can be severely criticized by his opponents, but not so his
private or personal character.
In order
that the elections in a democratic country should be freely and fearlessly
conducted, considerable latitude has to be given to the respective competing
candidates to criticize their opponents' political or socio-economic philosophy
or their antecedents and character as public men. That is why even false
statements as to the public character of candidates are not brought within the
mischief of Section 123(4), because the legislature thought that in the heat of
election it may be permissible for competing parties and candidates to make
statements in relation to the public character of their opponents, and even if
some of the statements are false, they would not amount to corrupt practice.
Having
regard to this policy of the statute, it often becomes necessary to examine
carefully whether the false statement impinges on the personal character of the
candidate concerned. Though it is not easy to lay down any general
considerations which would help the determination of this issue in every case,
in actual practice it may not be very difficult to decide whether the false
statement impinges on the personal character of the candidate or on his public
character...."
21.
In Inder Lal (supra), this Court held:
"The
public and political character of a candidate is open to public view and public
criticism and even if any false statements are made about the political views
of a candidate or his public conduct or character, the electorate would be able
to judge the allegations in that behalf. It is on this theory that false
statements of fact affecting the public or political character of a candidate
are not brought within the mischief of Section 123(4). In order that the
elections should be free, it is necessary that the electorate should be
educated on political issues in a fearless manner, and so the legislature
thought that full and ample scope should be left for free and fearless
criticism by candidates against the public and political character of their
opponents.
But the
position with regard to the private or personal character of the candidate is
very different. Circulation of false statements about the private or personal
character of the candidate during the period preceding elections is likely to
work against the freedom of election itself inasmuch as the effect created by
false statements cannot be met by denials in proper time and so the
Constituency has to be protected against the circulation of such false
statements which are likely to affect the voting of the electors. That is why
it is for the protection of the constituency against acts which would be fatal
to the freedom of election that the statute provides for the inclusion of the
circulation of false statements concerning the private character of a candidate
amongst corrupt practices. Dissemination of false statements about the personal
character of a candidate thus constitutes a corrupt practice."
22.
In Gadakh Yashwantrao Kankarrao (supra), this Court held:
"Before
adverting to the particular statements alleged to have been by Gadakh and
Sharad Pawar which are alleged to constitute the corrupt practice under Section
123(4), it would be appropriate to deal with one submission made by Shri Ashok
Desai and followed up by Shri Ram Jethmalani with greater vigour relating to the
manner of appreciation of evidence in such a case. Shri Desai submitted that
even though it may not be quite proper to make statements reflecting on the
personal character of a candidate, yet every such statement does not amount to
a corrupt practice since it does not prejudice the election in the prevailing
political climate. Shri Desai submitted that the existing norms do not match
the earlier norms and, therefore, every reflection on a candidate's character
does not necessarily prejudice his election since the electorate is not
influenced by such a statement in the prevailing electoral scene........
..........We
would also like to observe that the suggestion of a liberal construction of the
election law relating to corrupt practices by appreciation of evidence in the
manner suggested in the existing political climate wherein mud-slinging' is
common place, does not commend to us as the proper approach envisaged by the
election law. If purity of election is the essence of democracy and providing
for invalidation of an election on the ground of commission of any corrupt
practice is the object of enacting these provisions, it cannot be accepted that
the election scene having degenerated over the years, appreciation of evidence
for determining the commission of a corrupt practice must be made liberally
because of the lower values in the arena of elections. If the rule of law has
to be preserved as the essence of the democracy of which purity of elections is
a necessary concomitant, it is the duty of the courts to appreciate the
evidence and construe the law in a manner which would subserve this higher
purpose and not even imperceptibly facilitate acceptance, much less affirmance,
of the falling electoral standards. For democracy to survive, rule of law must prevail,
and it is necessary that the best available men should be chosen as people's
representatives for proper governance of the country. This can be best achieved
through men of high moral and ethical values who win the elections on a
positive vote obtained on their own merit and not by the negative vote of
process of elimination based on comparative demerits of the candidates."
"The
primary requirement of Section 123(4) is that the statement should be a
`statement of fact' which is `false', and which the maker either "believes
to be false" or "does not believe to be true"...
"....
The maker of the statement knows best the material on which his belief was
formed and, therefore, it is for him to prove the same.
Whether
the maker of the statement believed it to be false or did not believe it to be
true, is then ordinarily a matter of inference from the facts so proved."
23.
It is now well settled that the five ingredients required to
establish a corrupt practice under Section 123(4) of the Act are:
(i) there
should be a publication by the candidate or his agent, or by any other person,
with the consent of a candidate or his election agent;
(ii) the
said publication should contain a statement of fact which is false;
(iii) the
person making such publication should either believe such statement to be false
or not believe it to be true;
(iv) such
false statement should be in relation to the personal character or conduct of
any candidate; and (v) such false statement should reasonably be calculated to
prejudice the prospects of that candidate's election.
24.
There is thus no doubt that any false accusation relating to the
personal character or conduct of any candidate calculated to prejudice the
prospect of his election would amount to a corrupt practice. But what is
crucial is that the false statement should relate to the personal character or
conduct of a defeated candidate. Where the false statement was about someone
other than the candidate, this Court has refused to consider the publication to
be a corrupt practice under Section 123(4). In Dev Kanta Barooah v. Golak
Chandra Baruah (1970) 1 SCC 392 a statement imputed corruption and chaos when
the defeated candidate was chairman of a Municipality and asked the voters to
note the injustices and chaos during his tenure. This Court refused to hold the
same as a corrupt practice under Section 123(4) on the following reasoning :
"It
may, however, be noted that, in this part, it is not stated that Respondent
No.1 himself was corrupt. The imputation only is that, during his tenure of
office, there were instances of corruption and chaos.
Thereafter,
the four instances are given. It cannot, therefore, be held that the leaflet
was intended to convey to the readers that Respondent No.1 was himself corrupt.
The impression that would be expected to be created would be that his
administration as Chairman of the Municipality was so unsatisfactory that
corruption and chaos prevailed in the affairs of the Municipality. The
imputation, therefore, was as to mismanagement of the affairs of the
Municipality by Respondent No.1, indicating that he was not a good
administrator. The leaflet was not intended to convey to the voters any
reflection on the personal character of Respondent No.1."
25.
In Jagdish Prasad Tiwari v. Ramdhani Mishra (1975) 1 SCC 108, this
court held (vide para 3) :
"Under
Section 123(4) of the Representation of the People Act the false statement must
be in relation to the personal character or conduct of the candidate. We should
here set out the offending portion in Ext. P1 :
Then
Tewariji who now proclaims himself a Congressman, and has as well been
accepted, had no satiety from reviling using abusive and debased terms, Prime
Minister Indira Gandhi, and the Congress. His supporters were raising slogans
of very mean standard, Gali Gali mein Jhandi hai Indira Gandhi Randi hai.
xxxxx The
Hindi words used are "Khari Khoti" which mean true and false rather
than legitimate and illegitimate. However, as pointed out by the learned Judge
the first sentence relates to what the appellant himself did. The second
sentence relates to what his supporters did. It is the second sentence that is
obscene and abusive of the Prime Minister.
Therefore,
it cannot be said that the character or conduct of the appellant was attacked
and therefore the matter does not fall within sub-section (4) of Section 123.
We are, therefore, of opinion that the appellant has failed to prove the
corrupt practice that he alleged against the respondent even as the learned
Judge did."
26.
We may also refer to the principles relating to construing
offending pamphlets, laid down in Kultar Singh v. Mukhtiar Singh (1964) 7 SCR
790:
"The
principles which have to be applied in construing such a document are
well-settled. The document must be read as a whole and its purport and effect
determined in a fair, objective and reasonable manner. In reading such
documents, it would be unrealistic to ignore the fact that when election
meetings are held and appeals are made by candidates of opposing political
parties, the atmosphere is usually surcharged with partisan feelings and
emotions and the use of hyperboles or exaggerated language, or the adoption of
metaphors, and the extravagance of expression in attacking one another, are all
a part of the game, and so, when the question about the effect of speeches
delivered or pamphlets distributed at election meetings is argued in the cold
atmosphere of a judicial chamber, some allowance must be made and the impugned
speeches or pamphlets must be construed in that light. In doing so, however, it
would be unreasonable to ignore the question as to what the effect of the said
speech or pamphlet would be on the mind of the ordinary voter who attends such
meetings and reads the pamphlets or hears the speeches."
27.
In this case, the pamphlet published on behalf of the appellant -
Shri M. J. Jacob, addressed certain questions to Shri T.M. Jacob - one of the
rival candidates. Question (2) extracted above required Shri T.M. Jacob to give
an answer to the ordinary Congressmen in regard to a member of his personal
staff (one Scaria) attempting to murder a Congress Mandalam President -- P J
Baby and two others -- Joseph Babu and K.P. Jacob at Onakoor and remaining an
absconder. The allegations therein were against Scaria, a member of personal
staff of J. M. Jacob, that is, (i) he attempted to murder three persons and
(ii) he continued to be an absconder. Neither of these allegations are made
against the candidate Shri T M Jacob. Nor did it contain any allegation that
Shri T.M. Jacob was in any way involved either in Scaria's alleged attempt to
murder the said three persons or that he helped Scaria to remain an absconder
by harbouring him or otherwise. It is not therefore possible to read into the
question, an implied false statement that Shri TM Jacob harboured a member of
his personal staff who was an murder accused and absconder.
28.
As already stated above, there is no mention in paragraph 2 of
Ext. P1 that Shri T. M. Jacob has harboured any accused. However, Shri K. K.
Venugopal, learned counsel for the respondent submitted that the conclusion
that T.M. Jacob harboured the accused can be drawn by innuendo. We regret we
cannot agree, for the reason already mentioned above.
Moreover,
it has been held in M. J. Zakharia Sait vs. T. M. Mohammed (1990) 3 SCC 396
that (vide paragraph 57) that for an allegation of corrupt practice by innuendo
in an Election Petition, it is necessary to plead as well as to prove the
extrinsic facts to spell out the innuendo meaning of the words complained of.
We have carefully perused the Election Petition and we find that there is no
clear pleading of the extrinsic facts to spell out the innuendo. On this ground
only the Election Petition should have been dismissed.
29.
It may be noted that in paragraph 3 of the Election Petition it is
stated:- "The reference in annexure "A" that Shri T.M. Jacob has
harboured a member of his personal staff and that he is an absconder escaping
arrest is totally false as he had appeared in Court and was granted bail."
30.
The above statement is totally different from alleging that the
statement in para 2 of Ext. P1 that Shri Scaria is an absconder is an innuendo.
As already mentioned above, in paragraph 2 of Ext. P1 there is no mention that
Shri T.M. Jacob is harbouring Shri Scaria, and the mention is only that Shri
Scaria who was in the personal staff of Shri T.M. Jacob is absconding. Hence,
there should have been a clear pleading in the Election Petition that the
statement in paragraph 2 of Ext. P1 is an innuendo, and that it really means
that Shri T.M. Jacob harboured Shri Scaria, but there is no such pleading as
already stated above.
Innuendo
is to be clearly pleaded but that has not been done in the Election Petition.
31.
Shri Venugopal, learned counsel for the respondent, has invited
our attention to the decision of this Court in Mohan Singh vs. Bhanwarlal
(1964) 5 SCR 12 and has relied on the following observation therein :
"The
interrogative form is often employed not with a view to secure information but
to make and emphasize an assertion."
In that case
the statement in the leaflet in question was "Did you not defraud the
agriculturists with respect to the licences of opium ?" It was held that
the use of the interrogative form would not make the statement any the less an
imputation if it is fairly capable of being so read.
32.
In the present case in paragraph (2) of the pamphlet in question
the last sentence stated "Can you give an answer to the ordinary
Congressman in this regard?" Shri Venugopal submitted that the
interrogative form used here will not make it any less an imputation against
personal character.
33.
In this connection it may be pointed out that this Court in Mohan
Singh's case has itself stated that the interrogative is `often' employed as an
assertion. The use of the word `often' indicates that the Court did not lay
down in that decision that it is always or invariably so employed. Hence we
have to see the facts of each case and not go by any rule of the thumb.
34.
However, even if the statement in the interrogative form in
paragraph (2) is regarded as an assertion in our opinion it will not amount to
a corrupt practice under Section 123(4), for the reasons given above.
35.
It may be noted that Shri T.M. Jacob has not filed any Election
Petition nor made any complaint about the said pamphlet. In fact, the Election
Petitioner Mr. A N. Narayanan has stated in his evidence "Shri T.M Jacob
has not complained of any authority regarding publication of Ext. P1". It
is also significant that Shri T.M Jacob chose to complain about another
candidate (C.P. Saju) but not against the elected candidate. This clearly
indicates that Shri T.M Jacob himself did not consider Ext.P1 as casting any
aspersions against his personal character and conduct.
36.
36.Arguments were advanced in great detail on behalf of both the
parties as to whether the allegation that Shri Scaria is an absconder was true
or not, and whether the appellant believed it to be true or not, but in our
opinion it is not necessary to go into these allegations and
counter-allegations. In fact no effort was made to examine Shri Scaria as a
witness. In our opinion, even if the allegation was true it does not attract
Section 123 (4) for the reasons already given above.
37.
As already stated above, election results should not be lightly
set aside and the will of the electorate should ordinarily be respected.
Setting aside an election is a serious matter, and should not have been done
lightly. We regret to say that in this case the election of the returned
candidate has been set aside by the High Court, though no doubt by a rather
elaborate judgment, by observing, according to us unwarrantedly, that paragraph
No. (2) in Ext.P1 amounts to a false statement affecting the personal character
and conduct of Shri T.M Jacob. Once it is held that paragraph No.(2) did not
contain any statement regarding the personal character and conduct of Shri T.M
Jacob it follows that the tail piece of Ext.P1 that is the exhortation to
"recognize the shameless hypocrite of development trickery........ react
against the deceiver of the people" will have to be considered as not
against the personal character and conduct of Shri T.M Jacob, but as a
statement in respect of his public and political character. This, in our
opinion, does not attract Section 123(4) of the Act.
38.
In a democracy many allegations and counter-allegations are made,
and sometimes these are incorrect, but that does not mean that an election
should be set aside straightaway on that account, as has been done in the
present case, unless all the ingredients of Section 123(4) of the Act are
clearly made out, otherwise almost every election will have to be set aside.
39.
39.For the reasons given above these appeals are allowed, the
Impugned judgment is set aside and the Election Petition is dismissed. There
shall be no order as to costs.
............................J. (R.V. Raveendran)
..............................J. (Markandey Katju)
New Delhi:
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