Hyderabad: Stating that baseless election petitions should not be kept hanging like the sword of Damocles over the heads of legislators for long as they distract them from pursuing public service goals wholeheartedly, the Telangana high court on Monday dismissed a petition challenging the victory of CPI’s Kunamneni Sambasiva Rao from Kothagudem assembly constituency. The petition, filed by a voter, Nandu Lal Agarwal, alleged that Rao had suppressed his wife’s name in his election affidavit violating Rule 4A of the Conduct of Election Rules and his nomination papers were improperly accepted by the Returning Officer. He also claimed that Rao’s election affidavit was allegedly notarised by an advocate whose notary certificate had expired.Arguing for Rao, senior counsel G Vidya Sagar said that as per the modified form there was no need to mention the names of spouse and dependents. He also pointed out even the complainant could not dispute that his two children are not dependents.Justice K Lakshman ruled that Rao had substantially complied with disclosure norms by providing his wife’s PAN, income details and assets even if her name was omitted. The notary’s renewal application was pending when the affidavit was signed, and the subsequent validation by authorities regularised the document, the judge said. The judge said that the electorate’s mandate should not be overturned on technicalities without concrete evidence of malpractice and dismissed the petition.
