SHRI V. V. GIRI vs DIPPALA SURI DORA AND OTHERS

The Supreme Court held that under Section 54(4) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, a candidate from a scheduled tribe can contest both reserved and general seats in a double member constituency. The Court affirmed that the election process is for the whole constituency, and a candidate does not lose the right to contest for the general seat merely by contesting for the reserved seat. The Court also ruled that the appellant failed to prove that S2 had ceased to be a member of the scheduled tribe, thus upholding S2's election to the general seat as valid and constitutional under Articles 14 and 330 of the Constitution.