KANWAR LAL GUPTA vs AMAR NATH CHAWLA & ORS.

The Supreme Court interpreted Section 77(1) and Section 123(6) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, emphasizing the necessity of maintaining a ceiling on election expenditure to ensure equality among candidates and prevent the undue influence of wealth in elections. The Court held that exceeding the prescribed expenditure limit constitutes a corrupt practice, thereby reinforcing the integrity of the electoral process. The judgment underscored the importance of participatory democracy, where all candidates, regardless of financial strength, can compete on equal footing.