RAM AUTAR SINGH BHADAURIA vs RAM GOPAL SINGH AND OTHERS

The Supreme Court held that in election petitions under Section 100(1)(d)(iii) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, the returned candidate must specifically admit allegations regarding improper rejection of ballot papers for the court to dispense with proof. The court ruled that additional pleas raised by the returned candidate were irrelevant to the inquiry, which is limited to whether the election result was materially affected. The appeal was allowed, reversing the High Court's order for recounting ballots due to lack of evidence supporting the allegations.